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DEA.  DIMICK  ELLIS. 

(72) 


(^A^  ^'  A4t-^ 


Biographical  Sketches 


—OF— 


RICHARD   ELLIS 


THE  FIRST  SETTLER  OF  ASBFJELD,  MASS., 


—AND- 


His  Descendants.    >z^^ 

P^  /  COMPir.KD    AND    ARRANGED    BV  (/  ' 

H.   R.  KLLIS,  M.  D. 

(751.) 

"A  people  who  have  no  interest  in  the  achievements  of  remote  ancestors  arc  not  Hkelr 
to  accomplish  anything  worthy  of  the  recollection  of  their  descendants."— Macaule'v'. 

"  There  is  a  t«ndency,  even  in  thiss  democratic  America,  to  trace  our  conspicuous  men 
hack  to  a  noble  ancestry,  but  a  sound  mind,  in  a  sound  body,  is  all  that  modem  civilization 
demands,  and  these,  inherited  from  honored  parents  with  early  lesMms  of  frugality,  virtue 
and  manliness,  are  really  worth  more  thitn  an^y  patent  of  nobility." — (tKX.  W.  T.  Shrrman. 


DETROIT,  MICH: 

WM.   GRAHAM   PRINTING  CO. 
1888. 


staek 
AnniK 


PREFACE 


There  is  a  saying  that  the  "  first  shall  be  last,  and  the  last 
first."  If  this  saying  has  any  relation  to  the  making  of  books  it 
means  that  the  first  few  pages  of  a  book  are  often  the  last  to  be 
written  and  printed;  so  with  these  two  pages,  which  enables  the 
writer,  in  concluding  his  work,  to  make  a  few  remarks  thereon. 

Some  four  years  ago,  for  reasons  which  are  stated  on  page 
115,  he  began  tracing  out  the  descendants  of  Richard  Ellis,  of 
Ashtield,  Massachusetts,  his  first  ancestor  in  this  country.  It 
was  supposed,  at  that  time,  that  this  work  could  be  accomplished 
in  a  few  mouths,  and  the  printing  of  the  same,  which  would 
probably  be  limited  to  a  hundred  pages,  or  thereabouts,  be  com- 
pleted in  a  year  at  most.  The  unexpected  delay  has  arisen  from 
the  tardiness-  of  many  in  responding  to  inquiries,  the  greatly 
extended  nature  of  the  work  over  what  was  .expected  at  the 
outset,  and  the  necessary  occupation  of  the  writer  in  his  daily 
pursuit. 

As  but  five  hundred  copies  of  the  book  are  printed,  and  as 
these  are  expected  to  go  only  to  relatives  and  those  who  may 
have  a  personal  interest  therein,  the  writer  will  not  make  any 
extended  apology  for  inflicting  upon  mankind  another  book,  of 
which  they  are  now  greatly  overrun. 

It  is  proper  in  this  connection  to  mention  a  few  of  those  to 
whom  the  reader  and  writer  are  under  special  obligations  for  infor- 
mation furnished,  and  without  which  the  work  would  have  been 
far   more   imperfect  than  it  now  is.     Of   these  Rev.   Wm.  L. 


VIll  PRBFACS. 

Chaffin,  pastor  of  the  Unitarian  church  of  Easton,  Massachusetts, 
George  G.  Withington,  Esq.,  clerk  of  Easton,  the  clerk  of  Sun- 
derland, Massachusetts,  Messrs.  Henry  S.  Ranney,  Frederick  G. 
Howes  and  George  Bassett,  of  Ashfield,  and  Hugh  B.  Miller,  of 
Golerain,  Massachusetts,  deserve  special  mention. 

In  the  printing  and  binding  of  the  book  (as  less  than  one 
hundred  copies  were  subscribed  for)  considerable  advance  pay- 
ment was  necessary,  which,  to  the  amount  of  nearly  one  thousand 
dollars,  has  been  most  kindly  and  generously  advanced  by  Messrs. 
George  W.  Ellis,  of  Philadelphia;  Wilbur  D.  Ellis  and  Dr.  John 
Ellis,  of  New  York  City,  without  which  the  work  could  not  have 
been  undertaken. 

The  writer  has  had  a  personal  meeting  with  but  few  of  the 
more  distant  relatives  mentioned  in  this  volume,  but  through 
extended  correspondence  with  them  he  has  come  to  have  a  greater 
seeming  nearness  of  the  ties  of  relationship  and  a  very  kindly 
feeling  withal,  which  with  the  satisfaction  he  hopes  they  may 
derive  from  his  work,  will  serve  as  compensation  for  his  labor. 

In  conclusion,  he  desires  to  convey  his  thanks  to  all  those 
who  have  aided  him,  and  also  express  the  hope  that,  as  other 
generations  come,  successors  may  be  found  who  will  take  up  his 
work  and  follow  it  down  through  succeeding  generations. 

While  family  traits  and  traditions  are  of  no  general  interest, 
they  should  be  of  value  to  those  who  are  more  directly  involved, 
especially  if  attended  with  a  constant,  unwearied  effort  and  aspi- 
ration  to    improve    upon  the    moral,   physical    and    intellectual 

heritage  of  their  progenitors. 

E.  xi.  E. 
Detroit,  Mich.,  May,  1888. 


SKETCH   OF 

OF"   ASHFIELD  *  MASS. 


RICHARD   ELLIS,  the   subject  of  this   sketch,  was, 
accordin<(  to  his  own  account,  born  in   Dublin,  Ire- 
land, August  i6th,  1704.     His  father  was  a  native 
of   Wales,    England,   and    his    mother    may   have    been    a 
Welsh  or  Irish  woman. 

Richard  said  that  his  father  was  an  officer  in  one  of 
the  many  armed  forces  which  at  that  time  were  numerous 
throughout  the  British  dominions.  Just  at  what  time  his 
father  went  to  Ireland  does  not  appear  from  any  record 
which  is  now  accessible. 

Richard's  youth  was  spent  in  Dublin,  and  he  men- 
tioned having  traveled  in  other  portions  of  Ireland.  This 
unhappy  country  then,  as  now,  was  the  scene  of  much 
disorder.  The  strife  was  mostly  between  Catholics  and 
Protestants,  or  those  in  favor  of  or  against  whoever  hap- 
pened to  occupy  the  throne.  Richard  said  that  it  was  a 
common  occurence,  seemingly  enjoyed  as  a  pastime,  for 
the  officers  of  the  army  to  order,  in  the  morning,  before 
breakfast,  a  squad  of  prisoners  "  drawn  in  quarters," 
hanged  or  ^-hot.  Such  scenes  were  made  public  specta- 
cles, and  were  said  to  give  the  officers  a  relish  for  their 
meals. 

When  Richard  was  thirteen  years  of  age,  his  father 
having  died,  his  mother  undertook  to  send  him  to  Virginia 
where  he  had  an  uncle  with  whom  she  expected  he  would 
Bnd  a  home.      With  this  view  she    paid  for    him  a  cabin 

*  See  Note  1  of  the  Af/>cndijc,  where  will  be  foiiiiJ  a  historical  sketch  of  Ashfield  from 
its  first  settlement,  including  some  items  never  before  published. 


passage  to  this  country,  but  the  captain  of  the  vessel  vio- 
lated his  trust,  and  landing  at  a  sea-port  in  Massachusetts, 
he,  in  accordance  with  a  custom  then  somewhat  prevalent, 
sold  the  boy,  or  his  services,  until  he  became  of  age, 
ostensibly   to   pay   for   his   passage.* 

Richard  said  that  he  became  a  member  of  the  family  of 
a  miller  who'  was  a  very  stern  man,  and  often  harsh  with 
his  own  children,  consisting  of  several  daughters,  yet  to 
him  he  always  showed  the  utmost  consideration  and  kind- 
ness.f  Of  his  mistress  he  always  spoke  highly,  especially 
of  her  efforts  for  his  mental  and  moral  improvement.  He 
had  made  some  progress  in  education  in  Dublin,  but  of 
this  he  said  nothing,  thinking  thereby  that  his  new 
teacher  would  give  him  more  attention.  On  several 
occasions  he  excited  her  surprise  by  pronouncing  difficult 
words   in   advance   of  her  instructions. 

After  Richard  attained  his  majority,  he  went  to  Easton, 
Bristol  county,  Mass.,  where  in  1728  he  married  Jane 
Phillips,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Phillips,  and  sister  of  Thos. 
Phillips,  who  afterwards  was  the  second  settler  in  Ash- 
field.  Richard  lived  in  Easton  until  about  1740,  when 
he  removed  to  Deerfield  in  the  same  State.  Six  of  his 
children  were  born  in  Easton,  and  one  or  more  in  Deer- 
field.  Altogether  he  had  nine  children,  but  one — Benjamin 
— died    at   two    months   of   age. 

Richard's  father-in-law,  Capt.  John  Phillips  of  Easton, 
was  one  of  the  soldiers  in  the  expedition  against  Quebec 
in  1690,  and  consequently  was  among  those  who  became 
entitled  to  "  rights "  of  land  mentioned  in  another  part  of 
this  work.  This  fact  probably  was  what  led  Richard 
and  family,  and  his  brother-in-law,  Thomas  Phillips,  to 
settle  in  Ashfield,  ( then  called  Huntstovvn,)  which  he, 
Richard,  did  about  1745.  (Richard's  son  John,  born  in 
Deerfield,  1742,  said  his  father  removed  to  Ashfield  when 
he   was  three   years   of    age.)     Ashfield    was   then  a    wil- 


*  For  a  slightly  different  version  of  this,  sec  A/>/>entiix,  Note  2. 
t  See  Appendix,  Note  3. 


derness  and  Richard  was  the  first  settler*  The  locality 
where  he  selected  his  "right"  and  made  his  home  is 
about  one  and  one-half  miles  north-east  of  what  is  now 
known  as  Ashfield  Plain,  and  is  in  the  north-east  part  of 
the  township.  At  this  point  two  roads  cross  at  right 
angles,  and  Richard's  house  and  farm  was  on  the  south- 
east comer  where,  forty  years  ago,  Hiram  Belding,  Esq.,f 
lived,  and  where  Mr.  Leonard  D.  Lanfair  now  resides. 
Richard's  house  was  about  six  rods  south  easterly  from 
Mr.  Lanfair's  home.  One-half  mile,  or  less,  west  of  this 
point  is  Bellow's  Hill,  and  eighty  rods  north.  Bear  river 
runs  from  west  to  east.  Opposite  Richard's  house  on  the 
north  side  of  the  road,  and  about  forty  rods  east,  is  an 
ancient  burying  ground  where  lie  the  earthly  remains 
of  Richard  Ellis  and  wife  and  several  of  their  descend- 
ants. 

Of  the  scenes  and  incidents  among  the  pioneers  of 
this  rough  and  rugged  country,  much  has  come  down  by 
tradition  to  the  present  time.  The  country  was  moun- 
tainous, being  on  the  eafstern  slope  of  the  Hoosac  range. 
The  roads  consisted  mostly  of  trails  and  cow-paths;  the 
snows  were  deep  and  the  winters  most  rigorous.  Added 
to  all  the  other  obstacles  which  the  early  settlers  had  to 
encounter,  was  the  greatest  of  all,  the  danger  from  the 
tomahawk  and  scalping-knife  of  the  Indians.  On  one 
occasion  Richard  was  alarmed  by  the  Indians  while  in 
his  sugar-bush,  and,  it  is  said,  he  made  quick  time  to  a 
place   of    safety    with    his    five-pail    kettle   on    his   back. 

Richard  related  that,  not  unfrequently,  messengers 
would  ride  swiftly  through  the  country  giving  warning 
to  the  inhabitants  that  the  Indians  were  coming  down 
upon  them.  At  such  times  the  women  and  children 
would  be  quickly  placed  on  pack-horses  and  started  for 
the  old  fort  at  Deerfield,  some  ten  or  twelve  miles  easterly 
from  the  Ellis  settlement.     Then  the  men  and  boys  would 

*  There  is  some  evidence  that  Richard  began  his  settlement  in  Ashfleld  one  or  two 
years  earlier  than  this  date,  while  his  family  was  yet  in   Deerfield.     See  Appendix,  Note  i. 

+  Hiram  Belding  was  the  father  of  "  Belding  Brothers,"  the  most  extensive  manu- 
facturers of  sewing  silk  in  this  country.     See  Appendix. 


rally  with  their  guns  and  drive  back  the  savage  foes. 
These  Indians  were  from  New  York  and  Canada,  and 
were  very  jealous  of  the  encroachments  of  the  wiiite 
man.  The  old  Fort  at  Deerfield  was  constructed  in 
early  times,  as  a  defense  against  the  Indians,  and  did 
good  service  for  more  than  a  century. 

Few  of  this  generation  can  realize  the  privations  and 
dangers  encountered  by  the  heroic  men  and  women  who 
pushed  their  way  into  these  wilderness  regions.  Nearly 
all  the  conveniences  of  modern  life  were  unknown  among 
them.  Simple  and  rude  were  all  their  implements.  Go- 
ing to  church,  to  town,  to  mill,  or  on  a  neighborhood 
visit,  was  either  on  foot  or  horseback.  Sometimes,  in  the 
spring  of  the  year,  from  backwardness  of  the  season, 
provisions  became  exhausted,  and  some  of  the  inhabit- 
ants were  obliged,  it  was  said,  to  subsist  for  a  time  on 
the  buds  and  tender  leaves  of  basswood  trees  until  crops 
could  be  grown.  Not  all  even  had  salt  for  such  a 
repast  as  this,  and  those  who  had  were  regarded  as  quite 
fortunate.  But  in  spite  of  all  the'ir  privations,  they  grew 
up  a  most  vigorous  race  of  men  and  women,  whose  pos- 
terity have  gone  out  and  made  a  creditable  mark  on  all 
the  institutions  of  this  country;  and  the  wealth  of  char- 
acter developed  by  these  sturdy  men  and  women,  has 
been  a  rich  inheritance  for  their  children.  No  privations 
or  obstacles  seemed  to  daunt  them,  and  in  some  ways 
unnecessary  exposures  were  sought  and  encouraged  as 
evidences  of  manly  strength  and  in  the  belief  that  their 
systems  were  improved  thereby.  It  is  related  that  with 
some  it  was  a  lifetime  custom,  even  in  mid-winter,  to 
jump  out  of  bed  in  the  morning,  and  without  dressing, 
rush  out  to  the  wood  pile,  kick  off  the  snow,  and  gather 
wood  and  kindling  for  the  morning  fire.  They  fancied 
that  b\'  such  means  their  constitutions  were  invigorated ; 
and  certain  it  is  that  many  of  them  lived  to  a  great  age.* 

♦  The  subject  of  thb  sketch  was  a.  good  example  of  the  sturdy  race  from  which  he 
sprung.  Plutarch,  a  Roman  historian  of  the  first  century,  says  "  The  ancient  Britons  were 
so  haSilually  regular  and  temperate  that  they  only  began  to  grow  old  at  one  hundred  and 
twenty  years." 


13 
Richard  Ellis  was  a  true  and  loyal  subject  of  the 
King  of  England,  and  in  1754  when  war  broke  out 
between  England  and  France  and  extended  to  this 
country,  and  known  as  the  "  Frenrch  and  Indian  War," 
Richard  was  for  about  three  years  an  officer  in  the 
commissary  department  of  the  English  or  Colonial  ser- 
vice in  New  England  and  New  York.  Richard  Ellis, 
it  is  said,  was  a  man  of  strong  will  and  remarkable 
memory;  his  physical  vigor  and  mental  powers  were 
retained  in  a  high  degree  up  to  the  last  years  of  his 
life.  His  grandson,  Dimick  Ellis,  who  was  born  in 
Ashfield  in  1776,  was  familiar  with  Richard  during  the 
last  twenty  years  of  his  life,  and  from  him  the  writer 
(his  grandson)  obtained  most  of  the  items  for  this 
sketch.  About  the  year  1764,  Richard  kept  a  country 
store  and  asher}'  in  the  north-east  part  of  Colerain,  a 
town  about  15  miles  in  a  north-easterh'  direction  from 
Ashfield.  His  ledger  or  book  of  accounts  covering  the 
period  from  1764  to  about  1777,  together  with  some 
correspondence  had  with  him  and  others  before  and 
during  the  great  Revolution,  are  now  in  possession  of 
his  great  grandson,  Mr.  Lewis  Ellis,  of  Belding,  Mich. 
These  books  are  quite  a  curiosity  at  this  late  day  and 
give  one  quite  an  insight  into  what  constituted  articles 
of  consumption  in  those  times.*  In  them  are  found  the 
names  of  nearly  two  hundred  persons  who  were  resi- 
dents at  that  time,  of  Colerain  and  adjoining  towns.  Rum 
and  tobacco  were  articles  then,  as  now,  of  too  frequent 
use,  judging  from  the  charges  in  these  books.  It  is 
probable  that  this  mercantile  experience  of  Richard's  was 
not  a  financial  success,  which  may  be  accounted  for  from 
the  fact  that,  according  to  his  books,  the  largest  part  of 
pay  for  his  goods  he  took  in  ashes^  which  he  converted  into 
pot  and  pearlash  in  his  ashery. 

It  also  appears  that  Richard  engaged  in  the  milling 
business,  in  company  with  Mr.  Chileab  Smith,  Sr.,  who  was 
the  third   settler   in    Ashfield.       Their   mill    was    the    first 


*  For  specimens  of  these  accounts,  see  Appendix. 


w 


14 
one  built  in  that  section,  and  was  located  on  Bear  river, 
about  one  hundred  rods  north  of  Richard's  house,  and 
about  twenty  rods  east  of  the  bridge  on  the  roadway  run- 
ning north  toward  "  Baptist  Corners,"  as  the  neighborhood 
where  Mr..  Smith  lived  was  called.  This  grist  mill 
was  a  very  primitive  structure,  as  were  all  similar  mills 
in  those  times.  The  grinding  stones  were  run  by 
water  power,  but  the  bolting  and  elevating  was  done 
by   hand   or   manual   labor. 

In  later  years  this  mill  came  into  the  ownership  of 
Richard's  son  Lieut.  John  Ellis  and  one  of  the  Smiths, 
son  of  Chileab  Smith,*  who  conducted  it  for  a  number 
of  years.  It  would  seem  that  the  milling  business 
was  hereditary  among  Richard  Ellis'  descendants.  Be- 
sides Lieut.  John,  Richard's  youngest  son  Caleb,  who 
settled  at  EUisburg,  Jefferson  County,  New  York,  about 
1795,   built  mills   there. 

Also  Richard's  grandsons  (sons  of  Reuben),  Benjamin 
and  Richard,  aed  Benjamin's  sons,  Stephen,  Moses  and 
Benjamm  Jr.,  were  millers  nearl}'  all  their  lives.  The 
latter  built  and  operated  grist  and  saw-mills,  in  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Indiana,  as  do  several 
of  their   descendants   down   to   the   present   time. 

About  the  year  1760  Richard's  wife,  Jane  Phillips,  died, 
and  some  twelve  years  afterwards  he  married  Mar}-,  widow 
of  John  Henryf  of  Deerfield,  a  town  adjoining  Colerain 
where  he  then  lived,  and  had  his  store  and  ashery. 
Some  years  later,  probably  during  the  period  of  the 
Revolution,  Richard  returned  to  Ashlield,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  with  his  son  John 
and  grandsons  Benjamin,  Richard  and  David  Ellis  (sons 
of  Reuben),  and  grand-daughter  Jemima  Smith  Annable, 
wife   of   Lieut.    Edward    Annable   of  Ashfield. 

That  Richard  EUis'  father  was  Welsh  admits  of  no 
doubt,  for  besides  Richard's  own  statement  to  that  effect 
most  of   his   descendants   resemble  that  people  and   some 

*  This  was  Chileab  Smith,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  1743,  and  died  in  Ashfield,  in  1843. 
t  For  an  account  of  Mrs.  Henry  and  her  family,  see  Af>^enilix,  Note  4. 


15 
of  them  show  marked  peculiarities  of  the  Welsh  race 
down  to  the  sixth  generation.*  This  is  not  surprising, 
for  it  is  well  known  that  peculiarities  or  traits  of  charac- 
ter are  often  very  enduring.  Strongly  develoved  traits 
in    a  father   will   often    show    through    many   generations. 

This  is  seen  well  illustrated  in  the  Jews,  who  al- 
though scattered  through  different  countries  and  subject 
to  man}'  adverse  influences  retain  their  early  marks  of 
character   and   features   to   the  present  day. 

Of  Richard  Ellis'  religious  proclivities  the  writer  knows 
little  more  than  that  he  was  an  ardent  Protestant,  and  it  is 
fair  to  surmise  that  the  ideas  of  religious  liberty  which 
brought  the  pilgrims  to  this  country  fully  impressed  him  as 
a  youth  and  extended  to  his  manhood  as  well  as  through 
his  entire  life.  Among  the  first  settlers  in  Ashfield  and 
even  in  the  same  neighborhood  where  Richard  made  a 
settlement,  the  Baptists  were  the  first  to  organize  their 
church  and  erect  a  meeting  house,  and  from  that  time 
to  the  present  that  denomination  has  held  a  leading  part 
in  the  religious  sentiment  of  that  part  of  the  town  of 
Ashfield.  Three-fourths  of  a  mile  north  of  Richard's 
house  was  located  the  meeting  house  of  this  sect,  and 
from  that  time  to  this  that  locality  has  been  known  as 
"  Baptist  Corners."  The  first  minister  located  there  was 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Smith,  who  married,  in  1756,  Remember, 
the   second   daughter   of    Richard   Ellis. 

Richard  died  Oct.  7,  1797,  in  his  94th  year,  at  the  house 
of  his  grandson  Richard,  the  fourth  son  of  Reuben  Ellis. 
This  Richard  was  born  1760  in  Ashfield,  and  soon  after 
his  grandfather's  death  moved  to  the  northern  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  engaged  in  milling  and  founded 
the  town  of  Ellisburg,  Potter  Co.,  where  he  died  in 
1841.  His  daughter  Lucretia,  who  was  born  in  1806, 
and  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  John  Stipp,  a  Pres- 
byterian minister  of  Scio,  Oregon,  gives  the  following 
account  of  the  last  days  of  Richard  Ellis,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.     The  letter  is  dated   Scio,  May  26,  1884: 

*The  writer  of  this  sketch  was  once  asked  "  how  long  he  had  been  over,"'  by  a  Welshman, 
who  said  that  he  strongly  resembled  EUises  in  Wales  whom  he  knew. 


i6 

"  I  do  not  know  how  old  my  great  grandfather 
was  when  he  came  to  live  with  my  father  in  Ashfield, 
but  I  have  heard  my  father  say  that  he  was  very  spry 
and  at  80  years  of  age  could  jump  upon  a  horse  from 
the  ground  as  easily  as  a  boy.  He  always  appeared 
well ;  the  night  before  he  died  he  called  my  father,  at 
least  father  thought  so,  but  when  he  went  to  him  he 
said  he  had  not  called  him.  The  second  time  likewise 
he  thought  he  heard  him  call,  but  was  again  mistaken 
but  at  the  third  time  my  great  grandfather  said.  '  Well, 
go  to  bed,  child,  it  is  a  token  of  my  death,  I  have 
not  called  you  ?'  He  died  in  the  morning  about  nine 
o'clock   apparently    without   pain." 

[Kor  an  account  of  the  Ellises  of  the  old  country,  as  well  as  some  in  this  country  not 
related  to  Richard  Ellis,  see  A/if>i-Hdix.\ 


JANE  PHILLIPS,  who  married  Richard  Ellis  in 
Easton,  Mass.,  in  1728,  was  born  July  i,  1709.  Her 
parents  were  Capt.  John  Phillips  and  Elizabeth 
Drake,  his  wife,  and  her  grandparents  ( on  her  father's 
side ),  were  Richard  and  Elizabeth  (  Packer )  Phillips  of 
Wej'mouth,  near  Boston,  and  Richard  was  a  son  of 
Nicholas   Phillips. 

Jane  Phillips'  sister  and  brothers  were  as  follows  : 
Experience,  born  1699;  Samuel,  1702;  Joshua,  1704;  Caleb, 
1707;  Thomas,  1712;  Richard,  1713. 

It  does  not  appear  whether  Jane  Phillips  was  born  in 
Easton  or  Weymouth,  but  more  probably  the  latter  place. 

It  is  said  that  she  was  a  good  woman  and  devoted  to 
her  family.  She  died  in  Ashfield  about  1760.  The  Phillips 
family,  of  which  she  was  a  member,  were  numerous  and 
influential  in  Easton  and  in  Ashfield.  For  a  more  full 
account  of  them    see  Appendix. 

•  In  the  town  records  of  F.aston  and  of  Capt.  Phillips'  family,  this  name  is  written  Jane, 
Jean  and  Joan. 


I? 


Gehealogical  Record 

OF 

^icTxard  and  gane  %lUs 

AND    THKIR    DESCENDANTS. 

Following  this  Record  there  will  be  Personal  Sketches  of  every  one 
mentioned  herein,  so  far  as  the  same  can  be  obtained.  The  numbers  at 
the  head  of  each  name  in  the  Record  refer  to  the  same  number  and  person 
in    the  Sketches. 


FIRST   GENERATION. 

(I.)  RICHARO    BLI^IS Born,   1704;   Died,  1797 

(a.)  J  AXE   PHILLIPS...,  "      1709;      •'    *i76o 

Married  in  Easton,  Mass.,  in  172S. 


1730;  ' 

'  1730 

1732;  ' 

1735;  ' 

'  1795 

1737;  ' 

1832 

1739;  ' 

1742;  ' 

1827 

1750;  ' 

'  1839 

1754;  ' 

I8I3 

SECOND  GENERATION. 

CHILDREN    OF    RICHARD    AND    JANE    ELLIS. 
4.  Reuben  Ellis Botn,  1728;  Died,  1786 

6.  Benjamin    "    

7.  Mary  "    

9.  Remember  "      

II.  Jane  "    .. 

13.    MATTItEW     "      

15.  John  "    

17.  Hannah       "    

19.  Caleb  " 

The  first  six  of  these  children  were  born  in  Easton. 
The  record  is  found  in  the  handwriting  of  Mrs.  Ellis'  father 
(Capt.  John  Phillips),  who  was  town  clerk.  He  adds  to  the 
above  the  following  :  "John  Ellis,  son  of  Richard  Ellis  of 
Huntstown,  born  of  his  wife  Jean  in  Deerfield."  Hannah 
was  probably  born  in  Huntstown,  (afterwards  Ashfield,)  as 
her  parents  resided  there  at  that  time.  Caleb  may  have 
been  born  there,  or  elsewhere,  as  it  was  about  this  time 
that  the  French  and  Indian  war  began,  when  all  the  settlers 
left  Huntstown,  and  went  to  the  older  settlements  east  and 
south  for  three  years.     See  Appef/dix,  Note  i. 

*  Names  or  rl.Ttes  with  this  mark  (*)  may  not  he  e.racl/y,  hut  are  very  nearly,  correct. 


THIRD   GENERATION. 

(4)  RHUBKN  KI^I^IS T'orn,  I72'8;  Died,  1786 

(5)  IVIEHIXABI.E  SCOTTT Born,  1722;  Died,  1804 

Married  in  Sunderland,  Mass.,  in   1749. 
THEIR  CHILDREN. 

21.  Maktha     Ellis Born,  1750;  Died,  1832 

22.  Benjamin       "     

25.  Reuben  "     

26.  Jonathan       "     

28.  Submit  " 

29.  Richard         "     

32.  David  "     


"   I75I;    ' 

'  1834 

"  1752; 

'  183- 

"    1754; 

'    I8l2 

"  1756;  ' 

'    1834 

"  1760; 

'  I84I 

"  i7f'3; 

'  1843 

The  first  two  of  the  above  children  were  born  in  Sunderland,  and  the  others  in  Ashfield. 


(7)  9IARY  EI.I.IS Born,   1732. 

No  report  from  her  or  her  descendants,  if  she  had  any. 


(9)  RBMEIVIBER   EI.I.IS. 


Born,   1735;  Died,  1795 


(10)  Rev.  EBHXEZER  S9IIXH 

Married  in  Deerfield,  in   1756. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— All  born  in  Ashfield. 

34.  Irene      Smith Born, 

36.  Preserved     "    " 

38.  Jemima  "    

40.   Rhoda  "     " 

42.   EBENEZER.jr."    

44.  Obed  "  " 

46.  Richard       "  " 


1734; 


1824 


1757; 

Died,  1834 

1759; 

"   1834 

I76I; 

"   1835 

I702; 

"   1837 

1766; 

"   1855 

1770; 

"   1S28 

1774; 

"   1800 

(11)  JANE  ELI^IS Born,  1737;  Died,  1832 

(12)  JOHN  PHir.I.IPS 1734;  1805 

Married  in  Easton,  Mass.,  about  1759. 
THEIR  CHILDREN-AU  born  in  Easton. 

47.  John      Phillips,  Jr Born,  1761;  Died,  1841 

49.  Molly  "         

51.  Enos  "         

53.   PERCis(ason)"  

55.  Hannah       "  

57.  Marcv         "         

59.  Phebe  "         

61.  Sally  "         


1763;   ' 

I83I 

1765:  ' 

.... 

1767;  ' 

1829 

1770;   ' 

'  1856 

1773;  ' 

1832 

1777:   ' 

'    1863 

1780;  ' 

IS62 

(13)  MAXXHEIJV  EI.I.IS. 


Born   1739. 


No  report  from  him  or  his  descendants,  if  he  had  any. 


19 

(15)  JOHBJ  EI^I^IS Born,  1742;  Died,  1827 

(16)  mOI^I^V   DIMICK  "     173S;      "      1827 

Married  in  Ashfield,  in  1763. 

THEIR  CHILDREN-All  born  in  Ashfield. 

63.   Hannah  Ellis -.Born,   1764;  Died,  1839 

65.  DiMICK         "     

66.  Jane  "     

68.  John,  Jr.     " 

70.   Edward      "     

72.   DiMICK         "     

75.  Sylvia         "      


"  1766; 

"  1773 

"  1769; 

I8I2 

"  I77I; 

"  1848 

"  1773; 

"  I80I 

"  1776; 

"    1857 

'•  1779; 

"  *i83i 

Born,   1750;  Died,    1839 
"       1749;     "         1834 


(17)  HAT^]VAH    EI.I.IS   

(18)  JAMES  FUI.X01V 

Married  in  Ashfield  or  Colerain,  Mass. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— All  born  in  Colerain. 
77.   RoiJERT  Fulton Born,  1773;  Died, 

79.  Jamks,  Jr.    "       

80.  Caleb  "       

81.  David  "      

83.  lucretia     "       . 

85-  Daniel         " 

87.  Elijah  "       

89.  Nathan       "       

91.  Jesse  "       

95.  Sarah  "       


1775; 

"  1838 

1777; 

"  IS63 

1779; 

1782; 

"    1843 

1784; 

"  *i865 

1788; 

1829 

1790; 

"   1844 

1792; 

"   1834 

1797: 

1872 

Born,   1754;  Died,  1813 
"       1757       "       1813 


19    CAI.HB  EI.I.IS 

(20)  MARY  CROUCH 

Married  about  1779. 

THEIR  CHILDREN — Born,  some  in  Central  New  York  and  some  at  Ellisbiirg,  Jefferson 

County,  N.'Y. 

97.   Danifl  Ellis ; Born, 

99.   Hannah    " •. " 

loi.  John  " " 

105.  Jane  "     " 

108.  Thomas      " " 

111.  Squire       "     " 

112.  James         "     " 

115.  Robert      "     .    " 

118.  Polly        "     " 

118.  Sally        "     " 

118.  Betsey      "     " 


1780; 

Died,  1862 

1782; 

1784: 

"   1847 

1786; 

"   1849 

1788; 

"   1877 

1790; 

1813 

1792; 

"   1823 

1794; 

"   1863 

1796; 

"  young 

1798; 

"    " 

1800; 

"    " 

'  Names  or  dates  with  this  mark  (*)  may  not  be  exactly,  but  are  very  nearly,  correct. 


26 


FOURTH   GENERATION. 

(a^)  BENJAIWIX  EI.LIS norn,  1751:  Died,  1834 

(33)  RUTH  PIKE " 

Married  in  Ashfield.  March  15.  1774. 
OF  THEIR  CHILDREN— Stephen  and  Lurenca  were  bom  in  Ashfield,  the  others 


119.  Stephen 
121.  Lurenca 
123.  Moses 

125.  Daniel 

126.  Benjamin 
128.   Reuben 
130.  Mehitable 
132.  Chelometh 


probably  in  Dcerfield. 
Eu.is Born,   1775 


Jr. 


1775 

Died,  183- 

1777 

"   1853 

1780 

"   1849 

"   1812 

1784 

"   1859 

1786 

"   1845 

(26)  JONATHAN  ELLIS Born,  1754:  Died,  1812 

(a?;  LOIS  ALLIS "  "     1840 

Married  in  Ashfield,  March,  1799. 

In  this  family  there  were  eight  children:       Jonathan,  Elijah,  Reul>en  and  a  daughter  died 

in  infancy. 

134.  Submit         Elus Bom,  1803;  Died,  1877 

136.  Abel  West       "      "      1806;  "      1877 

138.   John  Allis      "      "       1809;  Living 

140.  Boadisea,         •'      "      iSir;  "      1849 


(a9)  RICHARD   ELLIS Bom.   1760;  Died,  1841 

(30)  EUNICE   CHILSON "      1763;      "      1791 

Married  in  Ashfield,  Dec.  12,  1780. 
THEIR  CHILD  RE  NT-Were  as  follows-  all  bom  in  Ashfield. 
143.  Hanford  Ellis Born,   1781;  Died,  1782 


144.  Lydia 
146.  Asaph 
148.  Hannah 

150.    LUCINDA 

152.  Consider 


1783; 
1785; 
1787; 
1789: 
1 791; 


1819 


JK. 


(29)  RICHARD  EIvIvIS,  the  above— second  wife. 

(31)  CHLOE    CHIIvSOPi Born,   1767;  1819 

Married  Feb.  ig,  1792.     She  was  a  sister  of  Eunice,  Richard's  first  wife. 

OF   IHEIR  CHILDREN— Some  were  born  in  Ashfield,  some  in  Southern  New  York,  and 
others  in  the  northern  part  of  Pennsylvania,  as  follows: 

154.  John        Ellis Born, 

156.  Eunice        "     " 

158.   Richard 
160.   David 

162.  Polly 
Benjamin    ' 
Thomas  J    ■ 

163.  POLLV  ' 
Mehitable' 

165.     LlCKElIA      ' 

168.    IIakry 
170.  Elizabeth  ' 
172.   Reuben        ' 


1792; 

Died, 

1862 

1794; 

.... 

1795; 

1827 

1797; 

1857 

1799; 

1799 

1800; 

1800 

I80I; 

1802 

1803; 

1805; 

1805 

1 806; 

tl 

iving 

IS09; 

1885 

I8II; 

I8I3, 

.... 

(32)  DAVID    EIvLIS Born,   1763;  Died,  1843 

(33)  SARAH  WASHBURI^i 1764;      "      1S48 

Married  in  Ashfield,  July  8,  1784. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— As  follows— were  all  born  in  Ashfield. 

174.   Melinda  Ei.Lis Born.   17S5;  Died,  1862 

176.  William       "       ...      

178.  Sarah  "      

180.  D.wiD  "      Jr 

182.  Rebecca      •'      


1787; 

'    1873 

1790; 

"    1853 

1793; 

"    1866 

1799; 

" 

(63)  HATVI^AH   ELLIS 

(64)  APOL.LOS  lYILLIAMS 

Married  probably  in  A.shfield,  1789. 
THEIR   CHILDREN. 

184.  Rhoda  Williams Born 

186.   Hannah       "         " 

188.   Daniel        "         " 

190.  Apoli.os 
192.  John 
194.  Alpheus 
196.   Edward 


Born,    1764;  Died,  1839 
"      176S;      "      1848 


1790;  Died,  1875 


jR 


1793; 

'  I87I 

1795; 

'  *i8i.3 

1797; 

*   1866 

1799; 

'   1825 

1 801; 

'   1877 

1804; 

'   1847 

*  Names  or  dates  with  this  mark  (*)  may  not  be  exactly,  but  are  very  nearly,  correct. 
t  Living  at  this  date— 1885. 


(66)  JANK   ELLIS Born,   lyfxj;  Died,  1812 

(67)  SAMUKL    LINCOLN  "  "      1812 

Married  in  Ashfield,  17S8, 

THEIR  CHILDREN— Some  bom  in  Ashfield,  and  others  in  Central  New  York. 

[So  little  is  known  of  this  family  that  the  order  of  their  birth  cannot  be  given  correctly.] 

198.  Phebe  Lincoln. 

199.  Polly  " 

200.  Hannah  " 

201.  Marilla  "      

202.  Betsey  " 

203.  Thomas  " 

204.  Anna  " 

205.  Benjamin  "       


Born,   1805;  Died,  1883 


.Born,    1812;  Died,  1858 


(68)  JOHN   ELLIS,  Jr Born,   1771;  Died.  1848 

(69)  ABILENA  PHILLIPS "  1854 

Married  in  Ashfield,  Dec.  30,  1795. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— All  born  in  Niles,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y. 

206.  Vespasian   Ellis Bom,   1797 

207.  Sylvia  "     

209.  AZEL  "     

211.  Harriet  "  

212.  Tamer  "  

214.  Hiram  "  

2x6.  Elisha  "  

218.   Richard  "  

220.  Pitts  "  

222.  John  J.  "  

224.  Charles  "  

225.  Benjamin        "  

227.  Ebenezer        "  

229.  Ruth  "  

231.  Anthony  W.  "  


1797; 

Died,  181 8 

1798; 

"      1858 

1799; 

"       .... 

1 801; 

"      1801 

1802; 



1804; 

"      

1805 

fLiving 

1806; 

"       1853 

1808; 

" 

I8I0 

fLiving 

I8II; 

"       1812 

I8I3; 

"       .... 

I8I5 

■{•Living 

I8I8; 

" 

1820; 

" 

(70)  ED^WARD  ELLIS Born,  1773;  Died,  1 801 

(71)  AMANDA  FLOIITER "  .  187- 

Married  in  Ashfield,  June  14,  1798. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in  Sempronius  (now  Moravia),  N.  Y. 

233.  Cyrus    Ellis     Born,  1799;        fLiving 

235.  Edward  D."      "  iSoi;  Died,  1848 

fLiving  at  this  date — 1885. 


23 

(72)  DIMICK    HI^LIS Born.  1776;  Died,  1S57 

(73)  I*OI.LY   ABfXABLE "  1774;  1826 

Married  in  Ashfield,  Dec.  11,  1799. 
THEIR  CHILDREN-All  born  in  Ashfield. 

237.   Desiah    Ellis Born,  1803;  Died,  1880 

239.  Richard    "     "  1805;      "      1878 

241.  Lewis         "     ...    ••  1811;        f Living 

243.  John  "     "  1815; 


(75)  SYI^VIA    EI^I^IS Born,   1779;  Died,  1829 

(76)  ASHER   BHLDIXG i777;      "       •.•■ 

Married  in  Ashfield,  where  all  their  children  were  born. 

245.  Ehenezer  Belding Born,    ;  Died 

246.  Aretus  "         "       ;      "    *l840 

247.  Jane  "       "      ;      "      1870 

249.  VoLNEY  "        '•       1814;         f Living 

251.   Thomas  " "      ;      "    *i88o 

253.  Chandler       "       "      ...,;      "      1884 


(97)  DAIVIEIv  EI^IvIS Born,   1780;  Died,   1862 

(98)  CHRISXINE  G.  SAI^ISBURY. . .      "     1780;      "    *i832 

Married  in  1802,  in  Adams,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in  Adams,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y. 

260.  Elizabeth  Ellis Born,   1S04;  Died,   1873 

264    Maria  " 

266.   Lorenzo  D.  "     

268.  Catharine     "     

270.  Groat  N.      " 

272.  Marcus  A.     " 

273.  Albert  "     


1807;  • 

1805;  ' 

'    1875 

'  I8I3;  ' 

1830 

•     I8I5;    ' 

1870 

I8I7;  ' 

'    1879 

1820;  ' 

'    1859 

(99)  HAIVIVAH  EI^I^IS Bom,  1782,  Died, 

(100)  COMFORX  CHAPMAN "       ....;      " 

Married  in  . 

THEIR  CHILDREN-Were  born  in . 

276.   Sidney    Chapman... Born ;  Died, 

278    Darius  "         "       ; 

280.  John  "         "       ....;      " 

282.  Squire  "         "       ....;      " 

284.  Elisha  "         "       :      " 


*  N.!»mes  or  dates  with  this  mark  (*)  may  not  be  exactly,  but  are  very  nearly,  correc 
t  Living  at  this  date— 1885. 


24 


(101)  JOHN  HI^IvIS Born.  1784,  Died.  1S47 

(102)  9IARV   STII^^WELI. 

Married  in  ,  iSl — 

THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in . 

286.  Calkb  Ellis Born ;  Died 

288.  SguiRE     '*      "     ;      "       


(lOI)  JOHN  ELI^IS— Second  wife. 

(103)  BETSEY   SiraiXH Born, 

Married  in ,  about 

THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in . 


Died,  1837 


290.  Mary  Ellis Born,  . 

292.  Daniel    "     "     . 

294.  Roger     "     " 

296.  Hannah  "     " 

(lOl)  JOHN  EIvI^IS— Third  wife. 

(104)  KAXE   DUITAN Born,. 

Married  in ,  about . 

ONE  CHILD— Born  in . 

298.  Edward  Ellis Born,  . 


Died, 


Died.  . . . 


Died, 


(105)  JANE  EIvI^IS 


■  Born,  1786;  Died,  1849 
"     ....;        "     1845 


(106)  AI»IASA  SHEI.DON. 

Married  in  1808,  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN- Born  in  Ellisburg. 

300.   Parley  Sheldon Born,  1810;  Died,  1862 

302.  William 

304.  Philo 

305.  ROBKRT 

307.  Amos 

308.  Amasa 


I8I2;    • 

1870 

1813;    * 

1873 

I8I5;    '• 

IS80 

1817;    ' 

1820;    " 

(X08)  XH09IAS   EI.I.I!!!. 


Born,    1788;  Died,  1869 


(109)  HANNAH   SALISBURY 

Married  in   1812,  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y. 

THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  BcIlevUle,  N.  Y. 

Ellis Born, 


1793; 


1867 


310. 

Richard     I 

312. 

Russell 

314. 

Sarah 

316. 

David 

318. 

Caleb 

320. 

Mary 

322. 

Vial  (a  son) 

324 

Jane 

326. 

Hannah 

328. 

Phebe 

1813;  Died,  

1815;      ' 

1S50 

1816;      ' 

1818;      ' 

'      1884 

1821;      ' 

...  - 

1823;      ' 

1827;      ' 

'      1849 

1829;      ' 

'      1878 

1832;      • 

'      i860 

1834;      ' 

'      1875 

25 

flia)  JAMES  HIvIvIS Born,  1792;  Died,  1823 

(113)  RACHEIv  'WEISER. ....;     "     +1858 

Married  in  Eilisburg,  N.  Y.,  about  1815. 

THEIR  CHILDREN-AU  Born  in  Eilisburg. 

330.   Mary  Ann   Ellis Born,  1816;  Died,  

332.   Thomas  '• ..     "      1817;     "       1876 

334.  John  W.  '•     "     1818;     "       

336.  Isaac  "     "     1822;     "       .... 


(115)  ROBERX    ELI.IS Born, 

(116)  MARY    WEISER 

Married  in  Eilisburg,  N.  Y.,  1816. 
THEIR  CHILDREN-AU  bom  in  Eilisburg. 

340.  Lyman       Ellis Bom, 

342.  Jane 
344.  Mary 
346.  Charlotie 
348.  James 
350.  Robert 
352.  Gad 
354.  Harmon 
356.  Rachel 
358.  Catharine 
360.  Franklin 


1794; 

Died,   1863 

1798; 

"     *i879 

I8I7; 

Living. 

I8I8; 

Died,*i855 

I8I9; 

'■         ... 

I82I; 

"       .... 

1822; 

"      1871 

1824; 

"      1884 

1826; 

"      1862 

1828; 

"       .... 

1830; 

Living. 

I83I; 

Died,   

1834; 



FIFTH  GENERATION. 

Descendants  of  Benjamin  Sr.  (22),  Reuben  (4),  and  Ricliard 
Sills,  of  Aslifield,  mass. 

{119)  SXEPHEN   EIvLIS Born,  1775;  Died,  1838 

(120)  SUSANAH    COBURI^ "      1819 

Married  at  or  near  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  about  1800. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in  Sempronius. 


362.   Prudence    Ellis Born. 

364.  Mehitable 
366.  Grateful 
368.  Jonathan 
370.  Abigail 
372.  Lester 
374.  Lois 


Died, 


*  Names  or  dates  with  this  mark  (*)  may  not  be  exactly,  but  are  very  nearly,  correct. 


26 

(lai)  LURENCA    EIvI^IS Horn,    1777;  Died,  1853 

(laa)  JOHN   PHEI.PS 

Married  probably  in  or  near  Moravia,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN—Born  at  or  near  Moravia. 

376.  John  Phelps,  J R Bom, *i8i8;  Died,     ... 


(1*3;  9IOSES    ELLIS Born,   1780;  Died,  1849 

(124)  ELIZABETH  JUDD "      1782;      "  1841 

Married  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  14,  1804. 
THEIR  CHILDREN—Born  in  Cayuga  County,  except  the  last  one. 

380.  Laura      Ellis Born,  1806;  Died,  . . . 

382.  Mary  JUDD  "    "      1808;      "  — 

384.  Lewis  "    ....    "      1811;      "      

386.  Eliza  Ann    "    "      1813;      "  1842 

388.   HesterAnn"    "      1816;      "       

390.  Annie  S.        "    "      1822;      "  1849 


(126)  BENJAMIN   ELLIS,  Jr. Bom.  1784;  Died,  1859 

(127)  ABIGAIL  HOWARD 1793;      "      1883 

Married  in  Sempronius,   N.  Y.,  Feb.  23,  1809. 
THEIR  CHILDREN—Born  in  Sempronius  or  near  there. 

392.  Rhoda        Ellis Bom,  1813;  Died,  1833 

393.  Myron  "     "  1817;      "      1858 

395.  Lewis  R.       "     "  1822;      "      .... 

397.  Amanda  M.  "     "  1826;      "      

399.  Nathan  IL  "     "  1834;      "     


(128)  REUBEN   ELLIS Bom,  1786;  Died,  1845 

(129)  ELIZABEXH  KING "     1793;     "  1876 

Married  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  about  1812. 

THEIR  CHILDREN — Bom  some  in  Cayuga  Co.,  some  in  Orleans  Co.,  and 
the  younger  in  Clymer,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 

401.  Olivet      Ellis Born,  1812;  Died,  

403.  Henry  K.     "     "      1813;     "  18 — 

405.  Eunice         "     "      1815;     •'  1816 

406.  Fanny  "      "      1816;    "  1817 

407.  Daniel         "    "      1817;    "  

*  Names  or  dates  with  this  mark  (*)  may  not  be  exactly,  but  are  very  nearly,  correct. 


27 


409.  Edmund   Ei 
411.  Lois  E. 
413.  Lydia  E. 
415.   Edwin  M. 

417.  Elizabeth 

418.  Reuben  E. 
420.  Alfred  O. 


LIS Born,   1819;  Died,  1857 


1821; 
1823; 
1825; 
1828; 
1832; 
1835; 


1862 


1852 


(130)  MEHIXABI.E    EI.I.IS Born, *i 788;  Died, 

(131)  I^AI^REIVCB  KEMP " 

Married  probably  in  or  near  Sempronius  (now  Moravia),  N.  Y. 
No  report  of  their  children. 


(13a)  CHELOMEXH   El^IvIS Born,*i79o;  Died, 

(133)  'WAI.XER  AVERY "      ....;      " 

Married  probably  in  or  near  Sempronius,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
No  report  of  their  children. 


Descendants  of  Jonathan  (26),  Reutien  (4),  and  Richard 
Kills,  of  Ashfield. 


(134)  SUBMIT.  EI^IvIS Bom,   1803;  Died, 

(135)  NAXHABIIEI.  HAITEKS 1800;      " 

Married  in  Moravia,  N.  Y. ,  Sept.  9,  1819. 
THEIR  CHILDREN-Born  in  Moravia. 

426.  George      Havens Born,  1S21 


428    Lois 
430.  Sarah  Ann 
432.    Miranda  Jank 
434.  Susan 
436.  Nathaniel 
438.  Lyman 
440.  John  West 
442.  Submit 


JR 


1824 
1826 

1831 
1834 
1838 
1842 

1845 

1848 


1877 
1874 


Died,  1855 


1885 


*  Names  or  dates  with  this  mark  (*)  may  not  be  exactly,  but  are  very  nearly,  correc 


28 

(136)  ABHIv  "WESX   HIvIvIS Born,  1806;  Died,  1877 

(137)  MARGARET  NORTON "     1806;       "     1866 

Married  1832,  in  Alleghany  Co.,  N.  Y. 

THEIR  CHILDREN— The  first  born  in  Alleghany  Co.,  and  the  others  in  Ripley, 
Chautauqua  Co.,  N,  Y. 

444.  Van  R.     Ellis Born,  1833;  Died,  1877 

446.  John  S. 

447.  Cyrus 
449.  Amarilla 
451.  Sarah  J. 
453.  Mary  Ann 


1835;    ' 

'    1835 

1837; 

1839: 

'  1858 

I84I;  ' 

'  1884 

1843: 

(138)  JOHN   ALI.IS  EI^I^IS   Born,  1809;  Died 

(139)  EI^IZA  ANN  FAIRCHILD "      1813; 

Married  March  20,  1833  in . 

THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  Coniieaut,  Ohio. 

455.  William  Avery   Ellis Born,  1833;  Died, 

457.  Orson  Henry  "     "      1835;     " 

459.  Mary  Jane  *' "      1837;     "      1865 

461.  John  Demetrius      "     "      1842;     "      

463.  Julia  Frances         "       "      1845;     "        ••• 

465.  Sarah  Alice  "     "      1850;     "      


(140)  BOADISEA  ELLIS Born,  1811;  Died,  1851 

(141)  ^WILLIAM  W.  KING "      1799;         Living 

Married  in  1839  in  Moravia,  N.  Y. 
Of  their  five  Children  two  died  in  infancy. 

467.  William  R.  King Born,  1841;  Died,  1871 

468.  Charles  D.     "   "     1843;       "     ... 

469.  Emily  D.        "    "     1848;       "     


Descendants  of  irichard  (29),  Reuben  (4),  and  Ricliard 
£llis,  of  Ashfield. 

(144)  LYDIA   ELLIS Born,  1783;  Died 

(145)  DANIEL  H.  BACON ....;"     *i855 

Married  . 

THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  Delraar,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa. 

470.  Oliver     Bacon Bom,   ;  Died, 

Lewis  "      "     " 


29 


Daniel     Bacon Born,  . . 

Nancy         "      "     .. 

Eunice        " "     .. 

Hannah      "       "     .. 

Chloe         "      "     .. 


Died. 


(146)  ASAPH   HI.I.IS Born,  1785;  Died, 

(147)  AMANDA  SPENCER 

Married . 

THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in  Clearfield  Co.,  Pa. 

482.  Charles     Ellis Born,  . 

Richard 


Horace 
Chauncy 
Pliny 
Hannah 


Died, 


(150)  I^UCINDA  EIvIvIS Born,  1789;  Died,  1842 

(151)  DAVID  HENRY "      ....;     "       .... 

Married  

THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  near  Wellsboro,  Pa. 

495.   William  Henry Born,...   ;  Died,  1882 

Charles  "  " 

David  "  " 

Lovica  "  ' 

Mary  '•  "       ...;       "     1871 

Lydia  "  " 

Margaret      "  " 


(152)  CONSIDER  ELLIS 

(X53)  MARY  LOVELL  

Married  in  or  near  Delmar,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN. 

500.  George     Ellis Born, 

John  "     " 

Prudence   " "     


Born,    1791;  Died,*i866 


Died,     . . 


30 

(154)  JOHBJ   EIvLIS Horn,  1794;  Died,  1862 

(155)  ELIZABKXH   FAIJI.KNER "     ....       "       1837 

Married  in  . 

THEIR  CHILDREN— Ten  in  number,  but  names  of   five  not  known.      Born,  some  in 
Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  and  in  EUicottville,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y. 

506.  Ralph      Ellis Born,  1829;  

508.  John  " "     ;  Died,  1847 

509.  William      "    "     ..■..;      "      

51 x.  lucinda      "    "     — ;      "      

513.   Margaret"    "     ....;      "      


(156)  EUNICE    ELI^IS Born,  1794:  Died,  1874 

(157)  REUBEN    HERRIXGXOX "     1791;  1862 

Married  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  about  1813. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  Tioga  Co.,  Penn. 

514.  Jacob  Herrington Bom,   1815;  Died,     ... 

515.  Sarah  Ann    "       "      1817;      "      

516.  Nancy            "       "      1819;  "      1843 

517.  Charles         "       "      1821;  " 

518.  Geo.  W.          "        "      1823;  " 

519.  Deroy  "       "      1825;      "      

520.  Harriet  E.   "       "      1830;  "      .... 

521.  Horace  P.     "       "      1837;      "      


(158)  RICHARD   EI^I^IS,  Jr. Bom.   1795;  Died,  1827 

(159    PAXIENCE    HERRINGXON  .  1802;  1855 

Married   Feb.  3d,  1818,  in . 

THEIR  CHILDREN-  Born  in  or  near  Delmar,  Pa. 

522.  Amasa  Ellis Born,   1819;  Died 

524.  Consider  "    "      1821;      "      

526.  Sam'l  Gilbert  "    "      1822;      "      1850 

528.  John  M.  "    "      1825; 


(160)  DAVID    ELIvIS Born,  1797;  Died,  1857 

(161)  ORILrl^A  DI9IICK "     1801;  "     1867 

Married  Jan.  13th,  1S19,  in . 

THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  Shippen,  Tioga  Co.,  Penn. 

530.  Thankful  Ellis Bom,  1820;  Died 

532.  Chloe  "         "      1822;      "      

534.  Chester  "      "      1823;      "      


1 864 


31 

536.  Jefferson      Ellis Born,   1826;  Died,   1877 

538.  Maria  '•      

540.   Harry  "      

542.  Cretia  Ann     "      

544.  Baker  D.         "      

546.  Seymour  "      


1828; 
1831; 
1836; 
1838; 
1846; 


(163)  POIvI^Y  EI.I.IS 

(164)  PAUI^   T«.  OIMICK 

Married  in ,  about  — 

ONE  CHILD— Born  in . 


.Born,  1803;  Died, 


548. 


(165)  I.UCREXIA   ELI.IS 

(166)  Rev.  BENJAWIIPJ  AVERY. 


.Born,   1806;  Living 

....    Died,  *i846 


Married  in  or  near  Delmar,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Three  or  four  in  number,  but  names  not  known. 


549 


(r65)  LUCRETIA    EI.I.IS   AVERY. -Second  husband. 

(167)  Rev.  JOHJ<J    STIPP Born,    ...    ;  Died, 

Married . 


ONE  CHILD-Born  in 


550. 


Died. 


(r68)  HARRY  ELI^IS Born,  1809;  Died, 

(169)  BETSEY   SEEI.EY ....;      " 

Married  ,  1S3.,  in  Ellisburg,  Penn. 

THEIR  CHILDREN-All  born  in  Ellisburg. 

552.  AnoLPHUS  C.  Ellis Born, 

554.  William  " 

556.  Richard  "       

558.  Orson  "      

560.  Marion  "       ....»». 

561.  Amasa  "         

562.  Genett  " 

563.  Ella  "         


1885 
1885 


1840; 


(X70)  EI.IZABEXH   EI^IvIS. 
(171)  W.  m,  CHAFFEE 

Married  - 


Born,   1811;  Died, 


564- 


THEIR  CHILDREN— 


32 

(lya)  REUBEN  EI^I^IS Bom,  1813;  Died,   ... 

(173) SEELEY "      ....;      "      .... 

ONE  CHILD- 
566 

Descendants  of  David  dr.  (32),  Reuben  (4),  and  Richard 
Ellis,  of  Astifield. 

^174)  IWEI^INOA   ELI^IS Born,   1785;  Died,  1862 

(175)  JOHN  WIIHG "      ....;     "     1857 

Married  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  about . 

ONE  CHILD.— Bom  in  Erie,  Pa. 

568.  Hamilton  Wing Bom, ;  Died, 


(176)  lIVIIvI^IAM  EI.I.IS Bora,   1787;  Died,  1873 

(177)  R.HODA  FIvO'WER '•      1789;      "     1664 

Married  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  about  1808. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom,  the  first  five  in  Ashfield.  the  others  in  Springfield,  Erie  Co.,  Pa. 

570.  William     Ellis,  J r Bom,  1810;  Died,  1865 

572.  Charlrs  p.  "        

574.  George  "        

575.  Harriet  "       

577.  lucretia  "       

579.  Samuel  " 

581.  James  F.  '       

583.  Mary  L.  "       

585.  Joseph  "       

587.    RUMINA  " 


I8I2; 

'    I88I 

I8I4; 

'  I8I4 

I8I5; 

'    1858 

I8I7; 

I82I; 

1824;  ' 

'  1849 

1828;  ' 

I83I;  ' 

1834;    ' 

'   .... 

(178)  SARAH  EIvLIS Bom,   1791;  Died,  1851 

(179)  Capt.  JAMES  FLO^WER 1781;  "     1832 

Mariied  in  Ashfield,  July  5th,  1810. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  Wesleyville,  Erie  Co.,  Penn. 

589.  Elbridge  G.  Flower Bom,  1811;  Died,  1832 

590.  Sally  H.        "        "     1813;  "      1885 

591.  David  E.         "        "     1816;  " 

592.  William  S.      " "     1821;  " 

593.  Clarissa  A.     "         "     1823;  " 

594.  Melinda  J.      "        "     1825;  " 

595-  Lydia  W.         "        "     1S28; 

596.  Phineas  D.      "         "     1830;  " 

597.  James  G.  "        "     1832; 


33 


l8o    OAVID  KIvIvIS,  Jr Bom.  1793;  Died,  1866 

(181)  ItU:?IIJ<A   FI^O'WHR "     1705;  1872 

Married  in  Ashfield,  about  1814. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born,  the  first  three  in  Ashfield,  and  the  others  in  Springfield,  Pa. 

598.   Louisa       Ellis Born. 

600.  Mehnd.\  "       ...    

601.  George  "      

603.   Marsh.^ll  "      

605.  Lko.n'Ard  " 

607.  Peter  "      

609.   Sarah  "       

611.  Orman  F.  •'      

John  "      


1S17: 

"    181S; 

"    1820; 

1S23; 

"    1824:    ' 

' 

1827; 

'    .... 

1829;    ' 

1870 

1832;    ' 

'    1835 

(182)  REBECCA  ELLIS 

(183)  JO>JA  rHAN  TAYLOR. 

Married 


Horn,    1799;  Died, 


THEIR  CHILDREN.— All  born  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio. 

613.  Phebe  Taylor Born,  . . 

614.  Sarah  "         "     .. 

615.  Mary  "         " 


Died. 


OescendantH  of  John  Ellis,  Jr.  of  Nile»,  K.  V.,  (68),  John  Sr. 
of  Ashfield,  (15 1,  and  Richard  Ellis. 

(207)  SYLVIA  ELLIS Bom,  1798;   Died.  1837 

(208)  JOHIV  SPRAC^UE "     1793;  1875 

Married  in  Sempronius,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  in   1816. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in  Perrysburg.  N.  Y. 

616.  .\lmerin  Sprague Horn.  1818;   I)ied,*l853 

617.  Delilah        "       "     1824;       "      

618.  LooosKA        "       '•     1827;       "       

619.  ToRLisKA    "     r-........;'rrrr "  1831;    "    1852 

620.  Ebknezer       "       "     1833:       •'      

(209)  AZEL  ELLIS Bom,  1799;  Died,    1863 

(210)  9IARY    HAOERItlA^ 1796;      "       1859 

Married  probably  in  Cayuga  Co..  M.  Y. 

621.  Edward  Ellis Born,  1831 :  Died,  1857 

622.  Phebe          "      "     ;  "     i860 

623.  Lydia  "      "     ;       "     


34 


(aia)  TAMER  HI.I.IS 

(ai3)  WIAXTHKW^    VANDKRBILT 

Married  May  8th,   1827,  in  — 


Horn,   1802;   Died,  1855 
•       1805;       *•       1877 


THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in  Niles,  N.  V. 

624.  Abilena  Vanderbilt Born,  1828;  Died, 

625.  Andrew  " "     1832;    " 

626    Hannah  "        "     1838;    " 


(ai4)  HIR AM  EI^LIS 

(ai5)  POL1.V   FLO^VERS 

Married  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
THEIR   CHILDREN. 

627.   Elisha  Ellis Born, 

629.  "      " 


Born,  1804;   Died.  1874 


. ;  Died, 


(ai6)  EI.ISH A    EIvI^IS Bom,  iSos;         Living. 

(3x7)  HANKAH    BRADLEV 1811; 

Married  at  Farmersville,  Ind.,  in  182-. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in  Farmersville,  Ind. 


630.  Nancy    Ellis Bom 

632.   Elizabeth" "     

634.  Abilena      "   "      — 

636.  Ann  "  ••     1838 

638.  Jno.  David  "   "     1842 


Died,  . 


(ai8)  RICHARD   ELLIS Bom.    1806;  Died,  1853 

(ai9)  MARY    P.  SELOVER 1810;  1884 

Married  Nov.  6ih,  1827,  in  Niles,  N.  Y. 

THEIR  CHILDREN.— The  two  first  bom  in  Niles.  N.  Y.,  and  the  others  in 
Jackson,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio. 


640.  Isaac  N. 
642.  Catherine 
644.  Mary  Ann 
646.  William  M. 

648.  Richard  S. 

649.  Sylvia  Jane 
650  John 


Ellis Born,  1829 

"  "   1833 


1837 
1845 


Died, 


1854 
1877 
1852 


35 

(aao)  PIXXS    ELLIS ...Bom.    1808;   Died.  1876 

(221)  LUCIA    M.    BALCOM "       1814;         Living. 

Married  in  Perrysburg,  Cattaraugus  Co. ,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  23d.  1832. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Waukesha  Co.,  Wis. 

651.  Edward  Elvastus  Ellis  , Born,  1838;  Died,  183^ 

652.  Helen  M.  "     "     1842;      "  

653.  LoDOSKA  S.  "     "     1845;      "  

655.   Pitts  B.  "     — "     1851;      "  

657.    Annie  A.  "     "     1854;      "  


13221  JOHX    J.  BLLIS Born.  iSlo;  Living 

(223)  CATHERINE  SELOVKR "  1813; 

Married  at  Niles,  N.  Y..  in  183-. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— AH  bom  in  Niles. 

659.  John  R.      Ellis Bom,  1839;  Died, 

661.  Martha         "     "  1844;      " 

663.  J.  Myron        "     '•  1845;      " 

665.  W.  Sflover  "     "  1852;      " 

667.  Newton  S.      "     "  1855;      " 


(225)  BEJ«J AlWIN    ELLIS Born,*i8i3;  Died,  1881 

(226)  JE9II9IA   VAXDERBILX 1816;  1883 

Married  at  Niles,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  ist,  1839. 

THEIR  CHILDREN.— The  first  four  bom  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  and  the  others  in 
M»^eilles^-Ohio. 

669.  William  N.  Ellis Bom, 

671.  John  H.  "     " 

673.   Marshall  "  " 

675.  Clarence  L.      "   

677.  Mary  E.  "  " 

679.  Abilena  "    " 

681.  Curtis  Milo       *'  " 

683.  Melinda  Louisa" " 


1840; 

Died,  1863 

1843; 

"   

1846; 

"   1847 

1848; 

'  "   

I85I; 

"   

1853; 

"   1853 

1856: 
I86I; 

"   1856 

♦  Names  or  dates  with  this  mark  (♦)  may  not  be  exactly,  but  are  very  nearly,  correct. 


36 


(227)  EBEI««JEZER   ELIvIS 

(228)  XHHODOCIA   PHILLIPS 

Married  in  Farmersville,  Ind.,  183-. 
THEIR  CHILDREN. 

685.  Julia      Ellis Born, 

687.  sophronia  ' 

689.  Edwin        "    "      1848 

691.  Harrik'i 
693.  Pitts 
695.  Mary 


Born,   1815;  Living. 

"       18..: 


1852 


Died, 


1879 


(229)  RUXH    ELLIS Born,  1818;  Living. 

(230)  GEOROE   HALL "      .... 

Married  in  Niles,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. 

No  report  from  this  family  or  their  children,  if  they  had  any.     They  are  said  to  reside  in 
Kichland.  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich. 


(231)  ABJXHON Y    ELLIS Bom,   1820;  Living. 

(232)  HA^I^AH   VANP   EXXEBJ 

Married  Oct.  I2th,  1843,  in  Nile.s,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN  -Born  in  Niles. 

708.  Elias  Ellis Born,   1844;  Died 

710.  Isaac  Newton  "    "      1846;      "      

712.  Arthur  Day    "    "      1859;  "      1861 

713.  Della  Jane      "    •'      1864;      "      

Descendants  of  Edward  Ellis  of  Biiles,  N.  V.,  (701,  John  Hr 
of  Aslifield,  (15),  and  Richard  Hllis. 

(a33)  CYRUS   ELLIS Bom,   1799;  Living. 

(234)  CLARISSA    BIRCH -    "      1800;  Died,  1885 

Married  March  31st,  1825,  in  Niles,  N.  Y. 
THIER  CHILDREN.-AII  bom  in  Niles  (now  Moravia^  N.  V. 

715.  Edward  D.  Ellis. Bom,  1826;  Died,   1864 

717.  Polly  "    '•      1828;      "       

719.  Minkrva            "    "      1829;  "      1872 

721.  Clarissa  " "      1832;      "       

723.    HiKAM  "   "      1834;      "      

725.  Cyrus                 "  Jr "      1836:  "      1863 

727.  Birch                  " "      1838;  "      .... 

729.   Henrv  F.           "  ....    *•      1843;  "      1863 

731.  Miles  M.           "   "      1846;  "      ,.., 


37 

(235)  EOVITARD    ».  HIvL,IS Born,    1801;  Died,  1848 

(236)  IvEOlWORA  M.  CHAPMAN 1805;       "      1870 

Married  at  Monroe,  Mich.,  Feb.  2d,  1830. 
THEIR  CHILDREN. — All  bom  in  Monroe  except  the  youngest,  who  was  born  in    Detroit. 

733.   Mary  Minerva  Ellis Born,  183 1;  Died,  1884 


735.  Amelia 

736.  Edward  Charles  " 
737    John  C.  C. 

739.  f-',lizabeth  t.    " 

740.  Henjamin  F.     " 


1833; 
1835: 
1837: 
184I; 
1844; 


1868 


Descendants  of  Dlnilck  Ellis  (72),  Jobn  St.,  (15),  and  RJcliard 
all  of  Astifield. 

(237)  DEJnIAH    ELIvIS Born.    1803;   Died,  1880 

(238)  XIBKR.IUS   BELDIBJG 1800;       '•   *i87o 

Married  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  April  loth,  1828. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— The  first  six  bom  in  Ashfield,  and  the  others  in  Belding,  Mich. 

741.  Annabel  Belding Born,  1829;  Died 

742.  Francis 

743.  Edward 

744.  Priscilla 

745.  Tiberius 

746.  Waite 

747.  Ellen 

748.  John 


1830;  ' 

'  1876 

1832;  • 

'  1863 

1834.    ' 

1838; 

1840;  ' 

1845;    ' 

1849;    ' 

(239)  RICHARD    EI^I^IS Born.   1805;  Died,  1878 

(240)  HANNAH    RANI^EY 1805;         Living. 

Married  in  Ashfield.  Nov.  "Thanksgiving  Day,"  1827. 
THEIR  CHILDREN  —Bora  in  Pittstown,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y. 

749.   Charlks  Dimick  El. lis Bom.  1829;         Living. 

751.  Erastus  RaniNEY      "     "     1832;  " 


(241)  IvEWIS    ELI^IS Born,    1811;        Living. 

^24^)  I.OUISA  l^II^SON 1S12; 

Married  in  Ashfield,  Oct.  22nd,  1834. 

THEIR  CHILDREN.— The  first  two  born  in  Ashfield,  and  the  others  in  Belding,  Mich. 
[Five  others  of  their  children,  all  sons,  died  in  infancy.] 

754.  George  B.  Ellis Born,  1837;  Died,  1851 

755.  George  W.     "       "      1851; 

757.  Mary  L.  "     "      1855; 


38 

(a43)  Dr.  JOHN    El,I^IS...    Born.  1815.         Living. 

(444 »  WARY  E.  COIX..... "      1817;  Died,  1850 

Married  in  Norwich,   Mass..    1S43. 

THEIR   CHILDRRN.— Delia  bom  in  Grand  Rapids.  Mich,  died  in  infancy. 
The  others  born  in  Detroit. 

759.  Alfred  Ellis  Born.  1847;  Died,  1848 

760.  Wilbur  D.  "   "      1848; 

443)  Dr.  JOHN  ELLIS.— Second  Wife. 

(a45)  SARAH    M.  LEONARD Bom,  1828;  Living. 

Married  in  Troy,  Mich.,  Oct.  — ,  1851. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Detroit,  and  both  died  in  infancy. 

762.  Lilly  Ellis Born,  1852;  Died,  1852 

763.  Edward  Dell  " "     1855;      "      1855 


Descendants  of  Daniel  Ellis  of  EUlsbursTi  K.  v.,  (971,  Caleb, 
(191,  anci  Rictiard  of  Ashfleld. 

(a6o)  ELIZABETH    ELLIS Born,    1804;  Died,  1873 

(a6l)  GEORGE   PADDOCK 

Married  in  EUisburg,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bora  in . 

764.  HE^RY  A.  Paddock Bom ;  Died 

765.  Maria  "         > •'      ;      "       


(a64)  91  ARIA    ELLIS Born,  1807;  Died.   1863 

(265I  ELISHA  SALISBURV 1807; 

Married  in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  . 

THEIR   CHILDREN. 

766.  Martha  Salisbury Born ;  Died 

767.  Abiram  "         "       ...;      "       


(a66)  LORENZO  D.  ELLIS Bom,"  1805;  Died.  1875 

(267)  MEHIXABLE   B.  IflARXIN.    . .       "  *i8i5  ;  1866 

Married  in  Cobwell,  Canada  in   1836. 

THEIR   CHILDREN— Born  in  Canada  and  New  York. 

768.  Christina  E.  Ellis Bom,  1837;  Died,  . . . 

770.  Carrie  M.  "     '•      i33q,  

772.   Myra  "     1S42;      "      .... 

774.  OuvKR  L.  D.     "     "      1845; 


39 

(270)  PilCHOLAS  GROAX    EI.LIS. . .  .Born,  1815;  Died,  1871 

(271)  ZII.PHA    B.  CASE r8i8; 

Married  in  Blenheim,  Canada  West,  Feb.  20,  1844. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  ia  Canada  and  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y. 

776.  Henry  G.     Ellis Born,  1845;  Died,     ... 

778.  George  W.       "     "     1847;      "     

780.  Margaret  J.    "    "     1849;      "     1857 

781.  Edward  D.      "     "     1851;      "       ... 

783.  Lewis  M.  " "     1856;      "     1885 


(273)  Reir.  AIvBERX   A.  EIvLIS Bom,  1820;  Died,  1859 

(274  >  ELECTA  A.  BARBfEY 1822;      "     1854 

Married  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y..  Sept.  22nd,  1844. 

THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  some  in  New  York  and  others  in  Michigan. 
(Helen  C,  Alice  C,  and  Eva  C.  died  in  infancy.) 

785.  Edwards.     Ellis Born,  1847;  Died,  ... 

787.   Mary  L.  "     "     1848;      "      1885 

789.  Charles  S.       "     "     1852;      "      

(2731  ReT.  ALBERT  A.  ELLIS— Second  wife. 

(275)  mARV   S.  GREGORY Bom,  1821;  Died.  1856 

Married  June  28th,  1855,  in  Plymouth,  Mich. 

ONE  CHILD.— Born  in  Brooklyn.  Mich. 

791.   Mary  E.  G.  Ellis Born,  1856;  Died 


Descendants  of  Thomas  Bills  (108),  of  Ellisburg,  N.  V., 
Caleb  (X9)  and  RIctaard,  of  Asbfield. 

(310 )  RICHARD    ELLIS Bom,  1813;  Living 

(3x1)    EMILY   A.CLARK "     1821;      "     1849 

Married  in  1842  at  Copenhagen,  N.  Y. 
ONE  CHILD— Born  in^ Rodman^  Jeflferson  Co.,  N.  Y. 

794.   Theodore  C.  Ellis Bora,  1845;  Died.     •    • 


(312)  RUSSELL  ELLIS Born,  1815;  Died,  1850 

(313)  MARTHA   COOK "     1817;      "    *i878 

Married  in  Pulaski,  N.  Y.     in  1835. 

ONE   CHILD.— Born  in . 

796.  Hiram  Ellis Bora,  1837;  Died 


40- 

(314)  SARAH  EI.I.IS Bom.  tRt6;  DieH. 

(315)  DAVID  FULTON 

Married  in    Belleville,  Jefferspn  Co..  N.  V.  in  1836. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— All  born  in  Kelleville. 

Died. 


800.  James      Fulton Born 

801.  Thomas        "'       "      

802.  David  "       Jr '*      — 

803.  Charles  N. '•       "     1855 


(316)  DAVID    ELLIS Born.  1818;  Died.  1884 

(317)  PAmELIA   CLARK **     1865 

Married  in  Belleville,  N.  Y. 
ONE   nAUGHTEk.— Bom  in  Belleville. 

805.    Hannah   Eius Born,   1862;  Died 

(Two  other  daughters  died  in  infancy.) 


(318)  CALEB  ELLIS Bom,  1820;  Died.     . . . 

(319^  9IARIA  LOUISA  BARKER "  '     1858 

Married  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  17,  1843. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— All  horn  in  Ellisburg. 


808.  Martha  Ann  Ellis Bom,  1844 

810    Vial  F.  '      "      1848 

811.  Russell  "      "      1852 

813.  Henry  D.  "      "      1854 


Died, 

'•       1864 


(318)    CALEB  ELLIS Bom,  1820;  Died,   .... 

(319)*  CHRISTINA  E.  ELLIS  (2d  wife). .  1837;      "       .... 

Married  at  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  11.  i860. 

THEIR  CHILDREN- All  Born  in  Ellisburg. 

815.  Florence  E.  Eli  is  Born,  1863;  Died 

817.  Geo.  Edwin         '     "  1864; 

819.  Albert  F.  "  1869; 


*  Daughter  of  Lorenzo  D.  Ellis.     See  No.  768,  page  38. 


41 


(320)  MARY    BIvIvIS Born,   1823;  Died, 

(321)  I^EONARO  O.  BARKER 

Married  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1843. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Young,  Onondaga  Co..  N.  Y. 

821.  Fannie  Barker Born ;  Died, 

822.  Addie  "  

823.  Hannah  Jane         "  

824.  Mary  Adelaide     " 

825.  Sarah  Louisa        "  

826.  Thurston  Garner  "  

827.  Herbert  Eugene  "  "     ....;      "      1873 


(328)  PHEBE   ELI^IS Born,   1834;  Died,  1875 

(329)  JOHPJ   CHAMBERI.AIN "  "      1870 

Married  in ,  1868,  in  Belleville,  N.  Y. 

ONE  SON.— Born  in  Belleville. 

828.  John  Chamberlain,  Jr Bom,  1869;  Died 

(328)  PHEBE  EIvI^IS-CHAMBERI^AII^- 

OAXES  UVHIXE— Second  husband . . ,  Born ;  Died, 

Married  in ,  1872. 

TWO  CHILDREN.— Bom  at  Pulaski,  N.  Y. 

829.  George  White Born,  1873;  Died 

830.  Ellis  •' *'     1875;       "     .... 


Descendants  of  James  Ellis,  (iia),  of  Elllsbnris',  K.  v.,  Caleb, 
(19),  and  Richard,  of  Asbfleld,  Slass. 

(33a)  XHOMAS  EI<I^IS, Born,  1817;  Died,  1876 

(333)  CYXXHIA  SHER]»A?9, "     1826;      "      .... 

Married  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— 


831.  Polly       Ellis .Bom,  . 

832.  James  "      

833.  William     "      

834.  Adelbert  "      

835.  Levi  "       

836.  Thomas,     "      Jr 


Died, 


42 

(334)  JOHN  'W.    EI.I.IS Born,  1818;  Died 

(335)  MARY   FULI.ER "     1825;      "      ... 

Married  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— All  bom  in  Ellisburg. 

837.  Roderick  D,  Ellis Born,  1843;  Died 

838.  Helen  "     "      1847;      "     1853 

839.  Martha  "     "      1850;      •'     .... 

840.  Fred  '• "      1856;      "     


(336)  ISAAC  EI.I.IS Born,   1822;  Died,  .. 

(337)  MARGARET  BEAMER "      1830;      " 

Married  in . 

THEIR  CHILDREN.— 

841.  Ellen        Ellis Born,  1850;  Died,    . 

842.  Alexander    "    "    1852;      " 

843.  Benjamin       "    .^ "    1855; 

844.  Frank  "     "     1862;      " 


Descendants  of  Robert  Ellis  (115),  of  £lllst>arKf  K.  Y.,  Caleb 
(19),  and  Richard,  of  Asbfield. 

(340)  LYMAN  ELI.IS Born,  1817;  Died,    .... 

(341)  MAL VINA  ZUFEI^T "     1829; 

Married  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  1848. 
THEIR  CHILDREN-AU  born  in  Ellisburg. 

845.  Dette  L.  Ellis Bom,  1850;  Died,  .... 

846.  Fannie  "     "      1852;     "     

847.  Arnita  "     "      1856;      "      


(350)  ROBERT  ELLIS,  Jr Born,  1824;  Died,  1884 

(351)  BETSEV    CHRISMAN "  1835;     "       .... 

Married  in  Ellisburg.  N.  Y.,  in  1853. 
THEIR   CHILDREN.— All  born  in  Ellisburg. 

848.  Gad  Ellis Born,  1854;  Died 

849.  Ch.\rlks        "     "  1857;      "      .... 

850.  William        "     "  i860;      "      

851.  BV  RON  "     "  1861;      " 


43 
SIXTH  GENERATION. 

Descendants  of  Steplien    Hllis  (ix9)«   of  Fayette   Co.,   Ind., 
Benjamin  (22),  Reuben  (4),  and   Rlcbard,  of  Astafield. 

(362)  PRUOEXCE  Elrl^IS Born,  1799;  Died,   1871 

(363)  CHARLES  X.  HARRIS "     1799;      "      1877 

Married  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  11,  1817. 

THEIR  CHILDREN.— The  first  two  bom  near  North   Bend,    Ohio;    the  others  in 
Fayette  and  Henry  counties,  Ind. 

860    Susan      Harris Born,  1818;   Died 

861.  Mary  Ann    "  

862.  Charles  W.  "  

863.  Stephen         "  

864.  Dorr  K.         "  

865.  Lester  E.      "  

866.  lucetta  d.   "  , 

867.  Eliza  "  


"  1820; 

'  1821 

"  1822; 

I83I 

"  1824; 

"  1827; 

'  1828 

"  1829; 

'  1864 

"  I83I; 

"   1835; 

"    1873 

(364)  MEHIXABLE   EL,L,IS Born,  1800;  Died.  1874 

^365)  I.E'WIS   ROBINSON 1791;     "       1843 

Married  near  North  Bend,  Ohio,  May  20,  1821. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  some  at  North  Dend,  and  the  others  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind. 

868.  Mary       Robinso.n .Born,  1822;  Died,    

869.  Eli  AS  "        

870.  Rachel  M.     "        

871.  Minerva        "        

872.  Martilla       "     • 

873.  Eunice  "  

874.  Erastus         " 


(366)  GRAXEFUI.   EI.I.IS Bom,  1803; 

(367)  CASPER  XRASK 

Married  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  2d,  1821. 
THEIR  CHILDREN. 
875.   Moulton  S.  Trask '. Born,   1823; 


1825; 

'   ... 

1827; 

'   ... 

1829;  ' 

'   t873 

1834;    ' 

'   1863 

1838;  ' 

'   i860 

I84I; 

'   

1803;  Died,  1883 

1801;   ' 

'   1873 

Died, 


876.  Clarissa 

877.  Lettitia  S. 

878.  Howell  H. 

879.  Lois 
Edward  E. 
Henry  V. 
Amelia  A. 

883.  DeEtte  E. 

884.  RUBIE   S. 


880 
881 
882 


1825; 
1827; 
1829; 
1832; 
1834; 
1837; 
1840; 
1844; 
1846; 


1840 


44 


(3^8)  JONATHAN  HI.I.1S 

(369)  CHARI.OTXE  JEFFREY 

Married  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  in  1829. 

THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Fayette  Co. 

885.  Louisa      Ellis Born, 

886.  Alvah 

887.  William  A, 

888.  Mary 

889.  DiANTHA  J. 

890.  Sarah  Ann 

891.  John  A. 


Bom,   1805;  Died,  1876 


Died. 


(370)  ABIGAII.  EI^I^IS 

(371)  JOSHUA  ^r IGHXM AN 

Married  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— 

892.  John        Wightman Born, 

893.  Austin  "  " 

894.  Minor  "  " 


Born,-  1806;  Died,  1849 


Died,*! 864 


(372)  I^ESXER    EIvI^IS Born,  1811;  Died,  1868 

(373)  SAI^I^Y  X.  XROIVBRIDGE "  1807;  "     1879 

Married  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— All  bom  in  Fayette  Co. 

895.  DiANTHA  J.          Ellis Born,  1833;  Died, 

896.  Chester  CoBiRN     "     "  1839;  "      1864 

897.  Polly  " "    '1843;      "      


(374)  I.OIS  EI.I.IS Born,   1813;  Died,  1842 

^375)  JOHN  JEFFREY " 

Married  in  1835,  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  Fayette  Co. 

898.  Jane  Jeffrey Born,   ;  Died 

♦  Names  or  dates  with  this  mark  {*)  may  not  be  exactly,  but  are  very  nearly,  correct. 


45 

Descendants    of  Sloses    Ellis,    (123),    ot    Payette    Co.,    Ind., 

Benjamin,   (22),  Reuben,   (4),   and   Rlcbard, 

of  Aslifield. 

(380)  IvAURA  ELrl^IS Born,   1806;  Died,  1881 

(381)  JOSIAH  SUXXON :     "      1799;      "     1879 

Married  March  11,  1828,  near  Connersville,  Fayette  Co.,  Ind, 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Fayette  Co. 

899.  Elsie  Sutton Born,  1828;  Died, 

900.  Hester  Ann      "     "      1835;      "      .... 

(382)  MARY  JUDD   HI^I^IS Born,  1808;  Died,  .... 

(383)  SUXHERI^APiD  CARD ....;      "      .... 

Married  about  1830  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom 

901.  LuCETTA   Gard Born,  . . .   ;  Died,  1850 

902.  Samantha     "    "  ;  "      

903.  Adeline        "    ...    "  ;  "      

904.  Harriet       "    "  ;  "  .... 

905.  Henry  "     "  ;  "      


(382)  MARY  JUDD   HI^I^IS   GARD. 

JAMHS   JAMES— Second  husband. 

Married , 

THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born . 

906.  Laura  James Bom, 

907.  Moses      "     " 


;  Died,*i86o 


(384)  I^H^WIS    EI^IvIS Born,   1811;  Died, 

(385^  SAMANXHA  THOMAS "    1811; 

Married  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.  Dec.  30th,  1832. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Fayette  Co. 

Ellis Bom,  1833;  Died, 


908.  Caroline 

909.  Lucy 

910.  Oliver  H. 

911.  Elvin 

912.  Jasper  D. 

913.  Emma 

914.  Minor 


1835; 

'   

1836;  ' 

'    1837 

1838; 

'    1839 

1839; 

'  1850 

I84I; 

'  I84I 

1842; 

'    1863 

46 


915.   Melvin      Ellis Born,   1843;  Died, 


916. 

Nancy 

917. 

Adeline 

918. 

Angeline 

919. 

Mary 

920. 

Eliza 

921. 

Ellen 

922. 

Edwin  W. 

923 

Hewitt 

1845; 

1870 

"      1846; 

'      1861 

1846; 

'      1858 

1848; 

'      1848 

"      1850; 

1852; 

"      1852; 

"      1854; 

(386)  EIvIZA  ANN  BI^I^IS Born,  1813:  Died,  1842 

(387)  'WII^I.IAWI   COI^E 

Married  1834. 

THEIR  CHILDREN. 

924.  Angeline  Cole Born ;  Died,   .... 


925.  Lewis 


1863 


(388)  HESXHR  ANN  HI^I^I.S Bom,  1816;  Died, 

(389)  PHILANDER  THOMAS "     1811;      " 

Married  in  Fayette  Co..  Ind.,  in  1835. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Fayette  and  Madison  Counties,  Ind. 

926.  Leroy        Thomas Born.  1836;  Died, 

927.  MARy  "        ....    

928.  Ann  "       


1865 


929. 
930. 
931- 
932. 
933- 


Lewis 
Oliver  H. 
Avery  C. 
Irvin 

Marshal 


1839; 
1841; 
1844; 
1849; 
1852. 

1855; 
1856; 


1863 


.Born,  1822;  Died,  1849 


(390)  ANNIE  S.  EI-IvIS 

(391)  JONATHAN  'WARD 

Married  in . 

THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in . 

934.  Ellen    Ward Born,  1845;  Died, 

935.  Edwin        " "      1847;      "      1878 


All  errors  and  deficiencies  in  this  part  of  the  book  will  be  corrected  in  the  next  section, 
under  "  Personal  Sketches,"  so  far  as  possible. 


47 

Descendants  of  Benjamin  Ellis  Jr.  (126),  of  Grotou,  Cayuura 

Co.,  N.  v.,  Benjamin  Sr.  (22),  Reuben  (4),  and  Ricliard, 

of  Asbfield. 

(393)  MYRON    BLI^IS Born,  1817;  Died,  1858 

(394) CUR.XIS "      ....;      "      .... 

Married . 

THEIR  CHILDREN.-Born  in  Groton,  N.  Y. 

936.  Augustus  Ellis Born,  ;  Died,    . . . 

937.  Benjamin      "     " 

938.  Cassius  "      " 

939.  Lycurgus      "     " 

(393)  MYROX  ELIvIS— Second  wife. 

xa:ncy  dunks. 

Married . 

THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Groton,  N.  Y. 

940.  Rhoda      Ellis Born,   ;  Died. 

941.  Martha       "     " 

942.  Helen  "      " 


1864 


(395)  LE'WIS   R.  ELI^IS Bom,   1822;  Died 

(396)  BI^IZABEXH   YAI.E " 

Married  in  Homer,   N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born . 

943.  Alida  Ellis Born, ;  Died, 

944.  Albert    " "      ;      " 


(397)  AMANDA   M.    BIvIvIS Born,   1826;  Died,.... 

(398)  FIIvANDER  H.ROBINSON... .    "      1821;      "      .... 

Married  May  13th,  1849,  in  Groton,   N.  Y.. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Groton,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. 

945.  Edmund   E.  Robinson -rrrn Born,  1851;  Died, 

946.  Lavene  "         "      1856;      "      1861 


(399)  NATHAN   H.  EIvI^IS Born,  1834;  Died,  . 

(400)  SARAH   BOI.I.ES "      1833;  Died,  ., 

Married  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  1867. 
ONE  CHILD.— Daughter.     Born  in  Groton,  N.  Y. 

947.  Edna  Ellis Born,  1868;  Died  ., 


48 

Descendants  of   Reuben   EIIIh   (128),   of  Chautauqua   Co., 
M.  v.,  Benjamin  Sr.  (22),  Reuben  (4),  and  Richard 
of  Ashfleld. 

(401)  OIvIVEX   ELLIS Born,  1812;  Died 

(402)  ALMIRA  PO'WHRS "      .... 

Married  March  3,  1839,  in  Clymer,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Panama,  N.  Y. 

948,  Adelaide  R.  Ellis Born,  1840;  Died 

949.  Eveline  C.  "     "     1845;     "      .... 


(403)  HEB^RY   K.    ELLIS Born,   1813;  Died,  1853 

(404)  ELIZA  ACKER "  "      .... 

Married  Sept.  i6th,  1837,  in  Clymer,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  . 

950.   Henry   R.    Ellis Bom,    ;  Died,   


(407)  DAIMIEL   ELLIS Bom,   1817;  Died,  .. 

(408)  PHILI^DA   ADA9IS ....; 

Married  April  19th,  1843,   in  Fredonia,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Panama,  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y. 

952,  Francis  Ellis Bom ;  Died,  . . 

953.  Newton     "     "      ....;      " 


(409)  EDmUND   ELLIS Born,  1819;  Died,  1857 

(4x0)  ROXAT^A  FAY "      ....;      "      .... 

Married  Sept.  i8th,  1842,  in  Chaut.  Co.,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y. 

954.  HoLLis  Fay  Ellis Born,  1843;  Died, 

955.  Henry  Reuben  "     "      1846; 

956.  Lucien  Elijah  "     .      "      1850;      " 

957.  Charles  Edmund      "     "      1853;      " 

958.  LiLXiE  Phkbe  '•     "      1856;     " 


49 


(4X1)  LOIS  E.  BI^IvIS Born,  1S21,  Died,  i88i 

(412)  ^WILI^IAM   R.  DAVIS ....;      "      .... 

Married  Aug.  27th,  1849,  in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— The  first  two  bom  in  Panama,  N.  Y.,  th«  last  two  in  Wisconsin, 

959.  Catharine  Davis Born,     . . . ;  Died, 

Adelia  "     " 

Joan  "     "      .. 

William  "     " 


(413)  LYDIA   E.  EIvLrlS Born,  1824;  Died,  1862 

(4x4)  HORAXIO  R.  PAI<iriER 1S26;  1864 

Married  Jan.    15th,   1851,  in  Chautauqua  Co.,   N.   Y, 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  N.  Y.  and  Wisconsin. 

960.  Almarian   S.  Palmer Born,  1852;  Died,  1881 

961.  Emeline  B.  "       "      1854;      "       

962.  Alfred  S.  "       "      1859;      "      1863 


.Born,   1825;  Died, 
"       1828;       " 


(4x5)  ED^WII^   M.  EI.LIS 

(4x6)  DIANA    GREEN 

Married  Sept.  16,  1846.     (Now  live  at  Lovell's  Station,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.) 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-Bom  in  Panama.  N.  Y. 
963.   Orly  J.      Elus Born,   1847;  Died,    . 


964.  Henry  H. 

965.  Edith  A. 

966.  Clara  A. 

967.  Frances  E. 

968.  Reuben  N. 


1849; 
1852; 
1858; 
1861; 
1867; 


1864 


(4x8)  REUBEN  ERASXUS  EIvLIS  .  .    Born,  1832,  Died,  . . 
(4x9)  HEIvEN   FREEaiAN "      1833;  Died.  . . 

Married  Sept.  24th,  1854,  ^^  Portland,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 

THEIR  CHILDREN.— The  first  two  born  in  Nekimi,  Winneb.ngo  Co.,  Wis.,  and  the 
others  in  Portland,  N,  Y. 


970.  Ida  E.  Ellis Born,  1856 

971.  Edmond  "     "      1857 

972.  George  Elmer      "     "      1864 

973.  Willie  Alton       "     *'      1869 


Died, 


1858 


5° 

(420)  AI^FRHD    O.    ElrLIS ...Born.   1835;  Died,  1885 

(421)  HCI^BX    m.  SKIDmORB "      ... 

Married  1858,  in  Portland,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.- All  born  in  Portland,  N.  V. 
974.  Porter  Zerah     Ellis Born,  1858;  Died, 


975.  LoRA  Belle 

976.  Carrie  Dell 

977.  James  Eumond 

978.  Minnie  May 

979.  Fred.  Arden 

980.  Algia  Frank 


1866; 
1868; 
1870; 
1872; 

1874; 
1877; 


Descendants  of  Abel  'West  Ellis    136),  of  icipley,  Cliantaa> 

qua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jonathan  (26),  Reuben  (4), 

and  Richard,  of  Ashfield. 

(447)  CYRUS    ELIvIS Born,  1837;  Died 

(448)  JENNIE  S.  HAYES "      1856; 

Married  Dec.  16,  1874,  at  Painesville,  Ohio. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-Bom  in  Ripley.  N.  Y. 

98X.  Fred  Hayes  Ellis Bom,  1876;  Died,  

982.  Emma  Maude     "    "      1878;      "      .... 


(451)  SARAH  J.    EI^LrlS Bom,   1841;  Died,  1884 

(452)  GEORGE  D.  WII.I.OBEE "      1837; 

Married  Oct.  17,  1867,  in  Ripley,   N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— All  Bom  at  Cedar  Run,  Grand  Traverse  Co.,  Mich. 

983.  Abel  M  Willobee Bom,  1869;  Died, 

984.  Charles  H.  "        . . .,  "      1871;      "      1884 

985.  Mary  D.  "       .    ..   "      1873;      "      

Lois  Alice  "        "      1878;      "      

Solomon  R.         "       *'     1882;      "      


(453)  MARY    ANN   EI^I^IS Born,   1843;  Died,  .. 

(454)  DANIEL  BUCHNER  "     1842;      "      .. 

Married  Jan.  19,  1875,  in  Westfield,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 
ONE  CHILD— Born  in  Crowland,  Ontario,  Canada. 
986.  Nellie  Margaret  Buchner Born,  1877;  Died,   . . 


Descendants   of  Jolin    Allis  Ellis  (138),  of  Conneant,  Olilo, 
Jonatlian  (26),  Reuben  (4),  and   Richard,  of  Aslifield. 

(455)  WILLI A]M  AVERY  ELLIS Born,  1833;  Died,     . . . 

(456)  MARIA  HOLIMES "     1836;      "      .... 

Married  in  Saybrook,  Ohio,  Dec.  24,  1856. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Conneaut  and  Ashtabula,  Ohio. 

987.  Hattie  Manella  Ellis Born,  1857:   Died. 

988.  Fannie  Florence      "     "     1861;      " 

989.  Minnie  Maria  "     "     1866;      " 

990.  William  Walter      "     "    1872;      " 

991.  Amy  F.  "     "     1875;      " 


(457)  0RS0:N  henry  ELLIS Bom,  1835;  Died. 

(458)  ELIZABEXH  l^OODARD 1835;     " 

Married   July   6,    1858,    in    Harrison,    Illinois. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Apple  River.  111. 

992.  Jennie        Ellis Born ;  Died, 

993.  John  Frank  "    "       ....;     " 


(461)  JOH3V   DEMETRIUS  ELLIS. .  .Born,  1842;  Died 

(462)  MARY  JANE  BRUCE "     1843;  "  187s 

Married  in  Conneaut,  Otiio,  Dec.  23,  1863. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  at  Conneaut. 

995.  Bruce  L.   Ellis..      .       Born,  1865;  Died,  1866 

996.  Mary  L.         "      "      i863;  "  

997.  Edith             "       "      1870;  "  .... 

998.  Bertha          "      "      1872;  "  

999.  John  A.         " "      1874;  "  


(4^3)  JULIA  FRANCES  ELLIS Born,   1845;  Died,     . 

(464^  WM.  BRADLEY  COLE "  "     .. 

Married  in  Erie  Co.,  Penn.,  Jan.  10,  1864;  now  live  in  Jackson,  Tenn. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in  Erie,  Penn. 

1000.  Walter  Cole Born,   . 

looi.  Carl  "     " 

1002.  Archie       "     " 


Died. 


(465)  SARAH  ALICE  ELLIS Born,   1850;  Died, 

(466)  JOHN  H.  HART 

Married  in  Conneaut,  Ohio  ;   now  live  in  Central  City,  Neb. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in 

1003.  Burt  Hart Born,    ;  Died, 

1004.  Jennie  Veve   "     " 

1005.  Pearl  "     " 

1006.  Gracie  "     " 


52 

Descendants  of  Rev.  Consider  Kills  <x%a),  of  Elllstiurg:,  Pa., 
Rlcbard  (29),  Reuben  (4),  and  Richard,  of  AshHeld. 


(500)  GEORGE  EI.I.IS 

REBECCA  RICE 

Married  in 


.Born,  1823; 
,  Born,    ; 


THEIR  CHILDREN-  Born  in  Alleghany  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Warren  Eli.is Born,  . 


1007. 

Warren  I 

1008. 

Ralph 

1009. 

John 

lOIO. 

Eli 

lOII. 

Jane 

IOI2. 

Ruth 

IOI3. 

Prudence 

IOI4. 

Fannie 

Died, 
Died, 


Died. 


Descendants  of  Rev.  Jolin  Ellis  (154),  of  Elllcottville,  ?(.  Y., 
Richard  (29),  Reuben  (4),  and  Richard,  of  Asbfleld. 

(506)  RALPH  ELLIS Born,  1829;  Died 

(507)  CAROLINE  W.  EVERXS "      1S38: 

Married  in  Benicia,  California,  in  1858. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  California. 

1015.  Wilson   R.  Ellis Bom,  1859; 

1016.  Carrie  C.        "     "  1861; 

1017.  Frank  E.        "     "  1864; 

Henry  F.        "     "  1866; 

Maggie  M.      "     "  1874; 


1018. 
1019 


Died, 


Bom,   1815;  Died.   1845 
"      1818;       "      1845 


(509)  'WILLI AlW  F.  ELLIS 

(Sro)  MAXILOA  HEROINE 

Married  in  1835, 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in 

1020    Elizabeth  Ellis Born,  1837;  Died, 

I02I.   Fred  "     "      1840;      " 


(511)  LVCINDA  ELLIS Born,  1820;  Died,  1881 

(51a)  PEXER   BERDINE i8t6;  1881 

Married  in  X840. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Wisconsin  and  Iowa. 

Helen  Berdine Born,  1S41;  Died 


1022 
1023 
1024. 


H ATT  IE 

Henry 

1025.  Ralph 

1026.  Clara 

1027.  Carrie 

1028.  Ollie 


1842; 
1848; 
1849; 

1859; 
1859: 
1862; 


53 

Descendants    of    Elder  RIctiard  Ellis*  (158),  of  Xlosa  Co., 
Pa.,  Ricbard  (29),  Reuben  (4).  and  Richard,  of  Asbfield. 

(Saa)  AI»IAlSA   HI^LIS Bom,  1819;  Died 

(523)  niARXHA  SCHOOiKOVBR "      1831;     "       ... 

Married  Sept.    29th,  1849. 

THEIR   CHILDREN.— All,  bom  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  but  now  live  in  Westfield, 
Tioga  Co.,  Pa. 

1029.  Mary  E.  Ellis Born,  1850;  Died 

1030.  Delos            "     "  1853;  "      .... 

1031.  James  D.       "     "  1856;      "      

1032.  Frank           "       "  1857;  "      1864 

1033.  Charles        "     ;...     "  1862;      "      


(524)  COXSIDBR   ELLIS Bom,  1821;  Died,  .... 

(525)  MARGARHX  FORXNHR "      1820;      "  .... 

Married  in  1845,  in  Allegany  County,  N.  Y, 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Belmont,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y. 

1034.  Josephine    Ellis Born,  1846;  Died,  

1035.  Delphine        "       "      1848;       "  

1036.  Lillian  "     "      1850;      "  1864 


(526)  SAMUEL  G.  ELLIS Born,  1822;  Died,   1850 

(527)  ROSETXA  CANFIELD 

Married  in  1844  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in 

1037.  Eliza  Jane  Ellis ..Born.  1845;  Died,  

1038.  Frances  "     "      1847;      "      


(528)  JOH^    M.  ELLIS Born,   1825;  Died 

(529)  ELIZA  FORXNER "      1827;      "      .... 

Married    Feb.  25,   1852,  at  Ellisburg,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in 

1040.  Rosetta  H.  Ellis Born,  1853;  Died,  i88i 

1041.  Maggie  E.         "     "     i8s7;      "      

*  He  was  an  unordained  Baptist  minister. 


54 


Descendants  of  David  Cllls  (160.)  of  Xlo^a  Co.,  Pa.,  Ricliard 
(ag),  Reuben  (4),  and  Richard,  of  Aslifield. 


(530)  XH ANKFUI.   EI.I.IS Born, 

(531)  CHARI^XOJS  PHILI^IPS 

Married  in  Shippen,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  1838. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-Born  in  Westfield. 

1043.  Sylvester  D.  Phillips Born, 

1044.  Rachel  •'       " 

1045.  Alice 

1046.  Elus 

1047.  William 

1048.  Delvin 

1049.  Clarence 

1050.  Clara 

1 05 1.  Emma 

1052.  Eva 

1053.  Charles 


1820; 
1815; 


1840; 
1842; 
1844; 

1847; 
1849; 

1851; 
1855; 
1855: 
1859: 
1862; 
1869; 


Died, 


Died, 


879 


1863 


(53a)  CHIvOH  EI.LIS Born,   1822;  Died 

(533)  JOB  REXFORD "     1817;  1880 

Married  March  3,  1844,  in  Big  Meadows,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Big  Meadows.  • 

1054.  Perry  Emerson  Rexford Born,  1845;  Died 

1055.  Nancy  Orilla  "         "      1848;      '*      

1056.  Henry  Gilbert  "         "      1852;      "      1853 

1057.  Stella  "         "      i860;      "      


(534)  CHESTER  EI.L,IS Born.  1823;  Died, 

(535)  CHI.OE  BLUE "     1827;      •' 

Married  in  Wellsboro,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  25,  1848. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Shippen,  Wellsboro  and  Westfield,  Pa. 

Lawrence  A.  Ellis Born,  1849;  Died, 


1058. 
1059. 
X060. 
1061. 
1062. 
1063 
1064. 


Seymour  D. 
Simon  W. 
Ida  Lucretia 
Nellie  J. 
Myra  O. 
Annie  B. 


I85I;  • 

'    ... 

1857;    ' 

'   .... 

1858;    • 

'   1862 

I86I;    ' 

'   1863 

1866;  ' 

*      .... 

1869; 

*     •  •  •  . 

55 

(53^)  JEFFERSON  EI.I.IS Born,   1826;  Died,  1877 

(537)  LOREXA  CHAPEI. 

Married  June  16,  1850  in  Shippen,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN- Born  in  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  and  Marquette  Co.,  Wis. 


1065.  Sarah  Ellis Bom, 

1066.  Ella       "     " 

1067.  John       "     " 


Died. 


(538)  91  ARIA  ELLIS Born,   1828;  Died, 

^539)  JOHN  J.   MILLER 

Married  Feb.  15,  1849,  •"  Knoxville,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Potter  and  Tioga  Cos.,  Pa. 

1068.  Katie  Miller Born ;  Died, 

1069.  Nettie  Miller "     ;      " 


(540)  HARRY  ELLIS Bom,  1831;  Died 

(541)  SUSAN  SCHUSLER "    1836;     "     .... 

Married  Nov.  29,  1857,  in  Mansfield,  Tioga  Co ,  Pa. 
THEIR   CHILDREN.-Bom  in  Mansfield. 

1070.  Emma  Ellis Born,  i860;  Died, 

1071.  Minnie   "    "      1862;      "      1865 

1072.  Fred  D.  "     "      1864;      "      


(54a)  CRETIA  ANN  ELLIS Bom,   1836;  Died. 

(543) 'WILLIAM  ANESLEV 

Married  Jan.  i,  1855. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Potter  Co.,  Pa. 

1073.  Mary  Aneslet Born ;  Died, 

1074.  Carrie       " " 

1075.  Henry       "        


56 

I>e«cend«nts  of  Harry  Ellis  (x68),  of  Elllstturgr,  Pa.,  Rlcbard 
(29,)  Reuben  (4,)  and  Rlcliard,  of  Aslifield. 

(55a)  ADOLPH VS  C.  HIvI^IS Born ;  Died 

(553)  MARY  HII.I, 

Married  in 

THEIR  CHILDREN.-Born  in 

1077.  Genktt  Ellis Born ;  Died,    . . . 

1078.  Mary         '•     "      ....;      "    

1079.  Ella  "     "      ..     ;      •*      ... 


(554)  WII-I^IAM    ELI^IS Bom ;  Died. 

(555)  ANNA  DONAI^DSON 

Married  in  

THEIR  CHILDREN-Born  in 

1080.  Lettie  Ellis Born ;  Died, 

1081.  Harry       "     "      ;     " 

1082.  William    "    Jr "      ;      " 


(556)  RICHARD  EI^I^IS Born,  1840;  Died. 

(557)  MAGGIE  I^OCKE 1846;    " 

Married  at  Ellisburg,  Potter  Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  i,  1861. 
ONE  CHILD— Bom  in  Ellisburg. 

1084.  Nora  Elus  Born,  1870;  Died. 


(561)  AMASA  EI^I^IS Born,   ....:  Died, 

ALI«IB  DONALDSON 

Married  in  Ellisburg,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  near  Ellisburg. 

1087.  Elizabeth  ELLt» Born ;  Died, 

1088.  Mary  "     "      ; 

1089.  Donaldson    "     "     ...  . 


(563)  EI-I.A  ELI^IS Born.  1851;  D'ied. 

JOHN  SIMONS "     1853; 

Married  at  Ellisburg.  Pa.,  March  14,  1876. 
ONE  CHILD— Bom  in  Ellisburg. 

1090.  Katie  Simons Born,  1878;  Died, 


57 

Descendants  of  Reuben  Bills  (172),  of  Ellisbursr,  Pa.,Rlcliard 
(29),  Reuben  (4),  and  R.lcliard  of  Astafield. 

(566)  AI^VIRA  EI^I^IS Born,  1833;  Died, 

(567)  CHARI^HS  COAXS "     .... 

Married  in  Ellisburg,  Pa.,  Jan.  31,  1850. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-Born  in  Ellisburg. 

1092.  Frances   E.    Coats Born,  1851;  Died, 

1093.  Catharine  E.    "     "      1853;      " 

1094.  Harriet  A.      "     "      1855;      " 

1095.  Reuben  E.         "     "      i860;      " 

1096.  William  H,      "     "      1866;      " 


Descendants  of  'William  Bills,  Sr.  (176),  of  Springrfield,  Hrle 

Co.,  Pa.,  David,  Sr.  (321,  Reuben  (4),  and  Richard, 

of  Asbfleld. 

(570)  'WII^IvIAIW  EI^IvIS,  Jr Born,  1810;  Died,   1865 

(571)  SARAH  GEER "      1818;      "      .... 

Married  Nov.  12th,  1840,  in  Springfield,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-  Bom  in  Springfield. 

1097.  David   Ellis Bom,  1841;  Died,  1870 

1098.  Jesse         "     "  1843;      "      

1099    Rhoda      "     "  1847;      "      1855 

1 100.  Martha  " "  1851;      "      


(572)  CH ARISES   P.   EI^I*IS Born,    1812;  Died,  1881 

(573)  SARAH  HARRIS '•      1816; 

Married  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  Dec.  15th,  1839. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  La  Grange,  Wis. 

iioi.  Priscilla  Rumina  Ellis Born,  1845;  Died 

1102.  James  Alfred  "     "      1852;      "      

1 103.  Charles  Elliott        "     "      1859;      "      

(575)  HARRIET   EI^I^IS Born,   1815;  Died,  1858 

(576)  AMOS  SMITH  "      18x5;      "      1851 

Married  Dec.  24th,  1835,  in  Springfield,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Springfield. 

1104.  Cyrus   E.    Smith Bom,   1839;  Died 

1105.  Cordelia  L.    "    "      1841;     "      .   .. 

1106.  John  B.  "    "      i844;      "      

1 107.  William  E.     "    "      1847; 


58 

(579)  SAMUEL   ELIvIS Born,  1821;  Died 

(580)  ABIA^DA    ADAMS "  ....;       "      1850 

Married  in  La  Grange,  Wis.,  in  1849. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in    . 

1108.  William  Edwin  Ellis Bom,  1850;  Died, 

(579)  SAMUEL   ELLIS Born,  1821;  Died,  .... 

HARRIET  FRENCH  (Second wife)       "  ....; 
Married  Sept.  17th,  1854. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Palmyra  and  Eaii  Claire,  Wis. 

1 109.  Cora  L.  Ellis Born,  1856;  Died, 

1 1 10.  Frank  E.    "    "  1858;      "      

iiii.   Harrys.    "     "  1871;      "      


(583)  MARY    L.    ELLIS Bom,   1828;  Died 

(584)  JOI«AXHAN  MORRELL "      1824;  1882 

Married  Aug.  12th,  1847,  in  Springfield,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Springfield. 

11 12.  Charles  P.  Morrell Born,  1848;  Died,  1853 

1113.  James  E.  "        "      1851;      "      1853 

1114.  Marcus  L.  "         "      1856;      "      

1 1 15.  Frank  W.  "        "      1861;      "      

1116.  Harriet  R.         "        "      1865;      "      1882 


(585)  JOSEPH  ELLIS. Born,  1831;  Died 

(586)  MARXHA  ^WEED 1842; 

Married  Feb.  26th,  1863,  in  Springfield,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Springfield. 

11 17.  Nevada   A.   Ellis Bom,  1865;  Died 

1118.  Carl  "     "     1868;      "      1868 

1 119.  George  W.       "       "      1869; 

1120.  Charles  "     "      1871;      "      1872 

1121.  Ralph  G.  "     "      1874;      "      


(587)  RUMINA    ELLIS Born,   1835;  Died 

(588)  .fOHI«  POTTER "      1830;      "      1859 

Married  in  1856,  in  Springfield,  Pa. 
ONE  CHILD.— Born  in  Eyota,  Minn. 

II22.  Gilbert  Ellis  Potter Bom,  1858;  Died 


59 

Descendants  of  Uavld    CIlis,  Jr.  (i8o),  of  Springfield,  Erie 

Co.,  Pa.,  David,  Sr.  (32),  Reuben  (4),  and  Richard, 

of  Aslifield. 

(598)  I.OUISA  BIvI^IS  Born,   1815;  Died,  .... 

(599)  ROBERX  PATXERSOJ* 1810;      "      1868 

Married  in  1S37,  in  Springfield,  Erie  Co.,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Springfield. 

1 123.  Williams.  Patterson Born,  1837:   Died,  1878 

1124.  Joseph  Ellis        "         "      1841;      "      .... 


{601)  DR.  GEOROH  ELI^IS Bom.  1818;  Died 

(602)  EUNICE  I.YON "  . . . ;  1861 

Married  in  Springfield,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-Born  in  S;mngfield. 

1125.  Orra   M.  Ellis Born,  1848;  Died 

1 126.  Louella  E.  "  "  1858;      "      


{603)  91 ARSHAI.  EI.I.IS Born,  1820;  Died,   .... 

(604)  MARXHA  JANE  'WII.SON^ "      ....;      "      1886 

Married  in  Springfield,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-Born  in  Spiingfield. 

1 127.  Lillian  May  Ellis Bom,  i860;  Died,  1865 

1128.  Harry  W.  "     "      1868;      "      


(605)  IvEONARD   EIvIvIS Born,   1822;  Died, 

(606)  RHOOA  A.  XAYI.OR "     1826;      "     1879 

Married  March  5th,  1854,  in  Spring  Borough,  Crawford  Co.,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-Born  in  Springfield. 

1129.  Elva  C.   Ellis Born,   1855;  Died, 

1130.  Dora  S.       "     "      1858;      "  

1131.  MiNA  P.       '•     "      1864;      "  

1 132.  Fred  T.      "     "      1865;      "  


(607)  PETER   ELIvIS    Born,   1824:  Died 

(608)  VIOEEXXA  DAVENPORT 1826; 

Married  Feb.  nth,  1845,  in  Springfield,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-Born  in  Springfield. 

1133.  Louisa   F.   Ellis Bom,  1846 

1134.  Martha  R.     "     "  1847 

1135.  Geo.  Wilbur  "     "  1852 

1136.  Hazen  W.      "     "  1854 

1137.  Orman  F.       "     "  1858 


Died,  1850 
1850 


6o 

(609)  SARAH   BIvIvIS Born,   1827:  Died, 

(610)  AARON  ^WIl^SON 

Married  in  Springfield,  Pa. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  Springfield. 

1 138.  L.    EsTELLA  Wilson Bom,  1854;  Died,  1863 

1139.  Ellis  R.  "      "      1856;      "      1863 

1140.  Claba  L.  "      "      18^6;      "      

(611)  ORIHAN   F.  HIvI^IS Bom,   1829;  Died,  1870 

(6X3)  mARXHA  H.  NEI.SON "      1840; 

Married  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  Sept.  23d,  1863., 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Springfield. 

H41.  Frank   H.       Ellis Born,  1865;  Died 

1 142.  Charles  Mark  "  "      1869;      "      


Descendants  of  Azel  Ellis  (209),  of  Miles,  Cayujca  Co.,  P(.  Y., 
John,  Jr.  (68),  John,  Sr.  (15),  and  Rlcliard,  of  Asbfield. 

(622)  PHBBE  BI^IvIS Born,   1833;  Died.  1863 

JOHN  ^WINSI^O^W 1863 

Married  March  3d,  1855,  in  Marseilles,  Ohio. 
ONE  CHILD.— Bom  in  Marseilles. 

1 143.  Harriet  Winslow Born,  1857;  Died 


(623)  I^YDIA  EIvIvIS Bom,   1841;  Died.     ... 

JOHN  H.  XBRRY "      1838; 

Married  1865,  in  Marseilles,  Ohio. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Canon  City,  Colorado. 

1 144.  William  L.  Terry Born,  1866;  Died, 

1145.  Nellie  "     "      1872;      "      

1 146.  Joe  '•     "      1874;      "      

Descendants  of  Hiram  Ellis  (214),  of  Miles,  M.  V.,  John  Jr. 
(68),  John,  Sr.  (15),  and  Richard. 

(627)  REV.  ELISHA    EIvI^IS Bom,   1837;  Died 

(628)  I^OVINA  WEI.DON "      1837;      "      .... 

Married  1856.  in  Caton.  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bora  in  Corning  and  Caton,  N.  Y. 

1147.  Edwin  Ellis Born,  1858;  Died, 

1148.  Egbert      "     "      1866;      "      .... 

1 149.  Clark       "     "      1874;      "      ..., 


6i 

(6a9)  HAXB^AH  EI.I.IS Born.  1834;  Died,  1873 

l^ILLIAIML  COI.B "  1836;      "      1864 

Married  in  1856,  in  Caton,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-Bom  in  Caton. 

1150.  Clovy  Cole Born,  1858;  Died, 

1151.  Edwin    "     "  i860;      "      

1152.  Ella        '*     "  1862;      "      


Descendants  of  Klislia  Cilia  (216),  of  FarmerSTllle,  Posey 
Co.,  Indiana,  John  Jr.  (68),  John  8r.  (15),  and  Ricbard. 

(630)  ^lAlVCY  BLrl^IS Born,   1829;  Died,  1852 

H.  ^W.  HOI.I.E9IAI^ ••      1826;      "      1852 

Married  in  Farmersville,  Ind.,  in  1S48. 
THEIR  CHILDREN —Born  in  Farmersville. 

1 154.  Elizabeth  Holleman Born,  1849;  Died, 

1153.  Elisha  "       * "      1850;      "      1858 


(636)  AI^JN   EI^I^IS Born.  1836;  Died,  .. 

(637)  SIDPJEY  ALI.YN "  1832;      "      18 

Married  in  Farmersville,  Ind.,  in  1854. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Farmersville. 

1 155.  Hannah   Allyn Born,  1S55 ;  Died, 

1156.  Thena  "     "  1857 

1157.  Elisha  "     "  1858 

1158.  BijAH  "     "  1864 

1 159.  Indiana        "     "  1867 


(638)  JOHN  DAVID   EIvI^IS Born,   1839;  Died, 

(639)  HARRIET  RUSSEI.I. "      1846;      " 

Married  in  Farmersville.  Ind.,  in  1S62. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in  Farmersville. 


1160.  Elisha  Ellis Born,  1863;  D 


1161.  Samuel 

1 162.  Grant 

1163.  John 

1 164.  Jay 

1 165.  BiRCHARD 


1863; 
1865; 
1870; 
1872; 
1876; 


ed. 


[863 


62 

Descendants  of  Richard  Ellis  (2x8),  of  ^lles,  Cayuga  Co., 

K.  v.,  John,  Jr.  (681,  Jotin,  Sr.  (15),  and  Rlcbard, 

of  Aslifleld. 

(64a)  CAXHARIPJe  EI.LIS Born,   1833;  Died,  .... 

(643)  DR.  C.  J.  RODIO 1864 

Married  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  in  1854. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born,  the  firkt  in  Toledo  and  the  second  in  Wyandotte  Co.,  Ohio. 

1166.  Johanna   Rodig Bom,  1858;  Died,     ... 

1167.  Lena  "     "      i860; 

(642)  CATHARINE  ELIvIS Bom,  1 833 ;  Died 

RICHARD  ^WILIvARD  (Second  Hiuband)     " 
Married  in  1866,  in  Marseilles,  Ohio. 
THIER  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Marseilles,  Ohio,  and  Nebiaslca. 

1 168.  Ines    Willard Born,  1866;  Died 

1169.  Clara         '•      "  1868;      "     

1170.  Marion      "      "  1872;      "      

1171.  Clyde         "      "  1875;      "      


(644)  MARY    ANN   EIvI^IS Born,   1837;  Died 

(645)  SAIWUEIv  PHILLIPS "      1835;  ■'  .... 

Married  Oct.  nth,  1857,  in  Marseilles,  Ohio. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Marseilles. 

1172.  John  W.   Phillips Bora,  1858;  Died, 

1173.  Eva  O.              "       "      i860;  "      

1174.  Harlan  P.        "         "      1862;  "  1862 

1175.  Mary  A.           "       "      1863;  "  1871 

1 176.  James  E.           "       "      1865;  "      

1177    Selover  K.       " "      1868;  "  1872 

1178.  Charles  N.      "       "      1870;  ■'  .... 

1179.  Jennie  O.         "       "      1872;  "      

1180.  Otto  F.            "       "      1875;  "      

1181.  Annie               "       "      1880;  " 


(646)  ^WILLIAIW  M.  ELLIS Bom,   1845;  Died,  .... 

(647)  MARCiAREX   A.  KEYES     1843; 

Married  Jan.  6th,  1869,  in  Niles,  N.  Y. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom,  the  first  in  Niles  and  the  others  in  Kenton,  Ohio. 

1182.  Susan  Viola       Ellis Bom,  1870;  Died,     ., 

1183.  Eva  Minnie  May  "    "      1871;      "      

1184.  Lena  Adela  "    "      1872;     "      

1185.  Essie  Amand  •'    "      1874;      "      1875 

1186.  Kate  Edna  "    •*      1877;      "      

1187.  Eugene  F.  Mead   "    "      1879;      "      .... 


63 


(649)  SYI.VIA   JAI««E  EI.I.IS 

JOHIV  KISHLER. 

Married  Nov.  7th,  1852. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  - 


Born,   1835;  Died,  1876 


I188.   Porter  S.  Kishler Born,  1855;  Died, 


1 189.  Charles 

1 190.  Annie 

1191.  Mary 

1 192.  Jennie 


1857; 
1859; 
1866; 
1868; 


Descendants  of    Hon.   Pitts    Ellis   (220),  of   Genesee,  IVau- 

kesha  Co.,  "Wis.,  John  Jr.  (68),  John  Sr.  (15), 

and  Richard,  of  Ashfield. 


{653)  I.ODOSKV   S.  EI^I^IS Born,  1845;  Died. 

(654)  AI.HX.   R.  BHBiZIE "      1837;      " 

Married  in  Genesee,  Waukesha  Co.,  Wis.,  Aug.  2,  1866. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Bums,  Lacrosse  Co.,  Wis. 


1 193.  Minnie   L.      Benzie Born,  1867 

1 194.  George  N.  "    "      1868 

1195.  Ida  May  "    ,        "      1874 

1 196.  Charles  Ellis    "    "     1878 

1 197.  Dottie  Lorinda  "    "      1880 

1198.  Harold  Alex.     "    "      1883 


Di 


ed. 


1879 


(655)  PIXXS  B.  EIvIvIS Bom,   1851;  Died,  ., 

(656)  ]VEI^I.IB  DOAXE " 

Married  in  Waukesha,  Wis.,  Sept.         1875. 
ONE  CHILD— Bom  in  Bangor,  Lacrosse  Co.,  Wis. 

1 199.  Richard  Claud  Ellis Born,  1882;  Died,  ., 


Descendants  of  Benjamin  Ellis  (2251,  of  Niles,  BJ.  Y.,  John 
Jr.  (68),  John  Sr.  (15^,  and  Richard,  of  Ashfield. 

(67X)  JOHPiJ    H.    EI.I.IS Born,   1843;  Died 

(672)  JANE  McCLEARY "      ....;      "      .... 

Married  in  Marseilles,  Ohio. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Marseilles. 

1200.  John   Ellis Bom,   ;  Died, 

1201.  Elnora  "      "      ;      "      


64 

(677)  MARY    E.    ELLI8 Bom,    1851;   Died, 

(678)  VII^CENX   LOI^G "      1848; 

Married  in  Marseilles,  Ohio.  1870. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.-Born  in  Marseilles. 

1202    A.  ViLLROY   LoNG Bom,  1873;  Died, 

1203.  Sylvest{:r  H.  "    "      1877; 

1204    Charles  R       "    "      1883;      " 


Descendants  of  Hbenezer  Ellis  (227),  of  Farniersvllle,  Posey 
Co.,  Ind.,  John  Jr.  168),  John  Sr.  (15),  and 
Richard,  of  Ashfield. 

{6SS)  JJJV,1Al   EI.I.IS Born,   1840;  Died 

(686)  JOH^   H.  mOCKEXT 1840;      "      .... 

Married  in  Genesee,  Wis.,  March  14,  i860. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Genesee  and  Stark,  Wis. 

Z205.  John    H.  Mockeft,  Jr Bom,  i860;  Died 

1206.  Edwin  R.  "  "      1863;      "      .... 

1207.  Frederick  E.    "  "      1867;      "      

1208.  Ebenezer  E      "  "      1870;      "      


(687)  SOPHRO^IA   EI.I.IS Born,   1842;  Died, 

(688)  RICHARD  H.   lUOCKEXX "      1838; 

Married  in  Genesee,  Wis.,  April  24th,  1861. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Genesee,  Wis. 

1209.  Robert  Squire  Mockett.,.. Bom,  1863;  Died, 

1210.  Edith  Theodocia      "      "      1866;      " 


(689)  EDVriN  EI.MS Born,   1844,   Died 

(690)  EI.IZA   J.   IflOCKEXX "      i848;      "      1872 

Married  in  Stark,  Vernon  Co.,  Wis. 
ONE  CHILD.— Born  in  Janesville,  Wis. 

I21I.   Wllie  Ebenezer  Ellis Born,  1870;  Died,  ... 


(691)  HARRIET    EI^I^IS Born,   1847;  Died, 

(69a)  ANDRE^W  DEAN 1847, 

Married  at  Staik,  Richland  Co.,  Wis.,  Jar..  1st,  i86q. 
THEIR   CHILDREN.— Born  in  Wisconsin  and  Nebraska. 

12X2.   Mabel  Dean ' Born,  1869;  Died, 

1213.  Nellie  Maud     "   "      1872,      " 

1214.  Asa  "    "      1875;      " 

1215.  Ellis  "    "     1877;     " 

1216.  Mary  " "     1880; 


65 

(693)  PITTS   EI.I.IS Born,  1852;  Died, 

(694)  OI^IVH  Iv.  ROSK 

Married  July  7th,  1880,  in  Scranton,  Iowa. 
THEIR   CHILDREN.— Born  in  Denver,  Colorado. 

1217.  Raymond  Edwin  Ellis  Born,  1881;  Died, 

1218.  Marion  Harold      "     *•      1883;      " 


(695)  MARY   HIvI^IS Born,   1854;  Died,  1879 

(696)  FRANK  CIvARK "      1845;      "      1880 

Married  in  Cuming  Co.,  Neb.,  April  14th,  1876. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Cuming  Co.,  Neb. 

1219.  Clara  E.  Clark Born,  1877;  Died, 

1220.  Samuel  "     •'      1879;      *'      1880 


Descendants  of  Cyrns  Ellis  (»33),  of  Miles,  Cayuga  Co., 

N.  v.,  Hd^ward  (70),  John,  Sr.  (15),  and  Richard, 

of  Ashfield. 

(715)  HD^WARD  ».  EIvIvIS..... Born,   1826;  Died,  1865 

(716)  MARY  CAMP .!..;      "      .... 

Married  in  Moravia,  N.  Y.,   Dec,   1850. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Born  in  Moravia  and  Omro,  Wis. 

1221.  Camp  Ellis Born,  1851;  Died,  .... 

1222.  Mary     "       "      1858;      "      .... 


(717)  POI^lrY   HI.I.IS Born,   1828;  Died 

(718)  XHOMAS  'W.  BAKHR "      1808;      "      1877 

Married  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  October  nth,  1854. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Manitowoc,  Wis, 

1223.  Clara  Baker , Born,  1855;  Died, 

1224.  Emma         "     "      1856;      "      .... 

1225.  Ellis         "     "      1863;      "      


(719)  MINERVA  ELrl^IS Born,  1829;  Died,  1872 

(720)  EOliVARD  H.   DEUEIy "      1819;       '      .... 

Married  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  5th,  1852. 
ONE  CHILD.— Bom  in  Niles. 

1226.   Mary  Jane  Deuel Bom,  1853;  Died,  .... 


66 

(7*3)  HIRAm  ISI^L,IS Born,   1834;  Died, 

(7a4)  IttARGAREX   VAI«  EXXEN....     "     1839;     " 
Married  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  July  7th,  1859. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Niles. 

Z227.  Levi  L.  Ellis Born,   i860;  Died, 

1228.  Henry        "     "      1863; 


(727)  BIRCH  EI.I.IS Born,   1838;  Died 

(728)  OERXRUDE  SEI.OVER "      1S37;      "     1871 

Married  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  7th,  1866. 

ONE  CHILD.— Born  in  Niles. 

1230.  Gertie  S.  Ellis Born,  1871;  Died, 


(731)  ]»IIIvES  BI.  ElvIvIS Born,   1846;  Died, 

(732)  EI.I<EB{  91.  CI^EVEI^AND "     1846;     " 

Married  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  23rd,  1870. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Niles,  N.  Y. 

1231.  Arthur  C.  Ellis Born,  1872;  Died, 

1232.  Fred.       A.      "     "     J875;      " 

1233.  Cyrus      H.      "       "      1876;      " 

1234.  Herbert  L.      "     "      1880;      " 


Descendants  of  Bdiivard  D.  Ellis,  (235).  of  monroe,  Mlcli., 

Bd-ward  (70),  John,  Hr.  (15),  Of  Astifleld,  and 

Richard  Ellis. 

^737)  JOHN  C.  C.  EI^I^IS Born,   1837;  Died,  ... 

(738)  I^UCY  JANE  IJVHIXAKER "      1844; 

Married  in  Lansing,  Mich.,  Dec.  24th  1863. 
THEIR  CHILDREN.— Bom  in  Chicago,  III. 

1236.  Harriet  A.   Ellis Born,  1864;  Died,... 

1237.  Ada  L.        "     "      1866;      " 

1238.  Lewis       T.       "     "      1869;     •" 


67 

DescendaMts  of  Rlctiard   Ellis  (239),  of  BelditiK:,  Ionia  Co. 

9Iicli.,  Ditnick  (72),  JoUn,  Sr.  (15),  and  Richard' Kills, 

all  of  Ashfleld. 

(749)  CHARLES  DIMICK  EI^I^IS. . .  .Born,   1829;  Died,  ... 

(750)  EI.IZA  A.   IvOCK^WOOD "      1842;      "      ..., 

Married  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  April  30th,  1862. 
THKIR  CHILDREN.— Born  in  Belding,  Ionia  County,  Michigan. 

1240.  May  Louisa  Ellis Born,  1863;  Died,  ..., 

1241.  Wm.  Erastus  "      "      1867;      "      


(751)  OR.  ERASTUS  R.  EI^I^IS Bom,  1832;  Died,  .... 

(752)  M.  MINERVA  EIvI^IS* "    1831;      "     1884 

Married  in  Belding,  Mich.,  April  22nd,  1857. 

THKIR  CHILDREN.— Born,  the  first  in  Owosso,  the  three  next  in  Grand  Rapids,  and  the 
last  in  Detroit,  Mieh. 

Ellis  Born,  i8';8:  Died, 


1242.  Elizabeth  B. 

1243.  Helen         M. 

1244.  Jessie  R. 

1245.  Edward      D. 

1246.  Anna  Belle 


1858 
i860 
1863 
1867 
1873 


1874 


♦Daughter  of  Edward  D.  Ellis,  of  Monroe,  Mich.     See  No.  733,  page  37. 


Descendants  of  I^c^-is  Ellis  (241),  of  Belding,  ]»licli.,  Dimick 
(72),  John,  Sr.  (i5^>  and  Richard  Ellis,  all  of  Ashiield. 

(757)  9IARY  L.  EI^I^IS  Born,  1854;  Died,   

(758)  FRED.  E.  RANNEY "      1853;      ".     .... 

Married  in  Belding,  Mich.,  1875. 
THEIR  CHILDREN— Bom  in  Belding,  Mich. 

1247.  Ellis  W.    Ranney Born,  1878;  Died, 

1248.  Carrie  L.       "        .....^^., "      1880 

1249.  Hattie  B.      "         "      1883 


From  page  43  up  to  this  point  are  included  the  sixth  generation  of  Richard  Ellis'  descend- 
ants, except  those  of  his  son  Caleb.  The  latter  being  much  younger  than  the  others  it  is 
thought  best  to  omit  them  from  this  part  of  the  book,  but  their  names  will  be  given,  so  far  as 
can  be  ascertained  in  connection  with  their  parents,  under  the  next  section  of  Personal 
Sketches. 


68 


Persohal  Sketches 

OF 

%xch^vd  and  gaite  %IUb 

AND  THEIR  DESCENDANTS. 

In  this  section  will  be  found  sketches  of  eveiy  descendant  of  Richard 
Ellis,  so  far  as  the  same  can  be  obtained.  The  numbers  at  the  head  of  each 
name  in  the  Sketches  refer  to  the  same  number  and  person  in  the  Record. 

Where  names  or  dates  in  the  Record  differ  from  those  in  the  Sketches,  the 
latter  may  be  taken  as  correct. 


FIRST  GENERATION. 

(1.)  RICHARD  ELLIS.  (For  sketch  see  pages  9 
to  16.) 

(2.)  JANE  PHILLIPS.  (For  sketch  see  page  16. 
For  a  more    full  account  of  the  Phillipses    see   Afpendix. 


SECOND  GENERATION. 

Clilldren  of  Richard  and  Jane  Kills  and  their  ^ivives  and 

husbands. 

(4.)  REUBEN  ELLIS,  was  born  in  Easton,  Bristol 
Co.,  (formerly  Plymouth  Co.)  Mass.,  Nov.  5th,  1728. 

When  about  11  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to 
Deerfield,  Franklin  Co.,  (then  Hampshire  Co.)  Mass. 
While  his  father's  family  were  in  Deerfield,  his  father 
made  a  location  in  Ashfield  (at  that  time  called  Hunts- 
town)  and  removed  his  family  there  about  1745.  It  is 
probable  that  Reuben  remained  in  Ashfield  with  his  father 
until  near  his  majority.  According  to  the  records  of  the 
town  of  Sunderland,  which  is  the  first  town  south  of 
Deerfield,  Reuben  Ellis  was  married  to  Mehitable  Scott, 
June    4th,    1749.       There   in    Sunderland    they    lived    for 


69 

about  three  years  where  their  two  eldest  children,  Martha 
and  Benjamin,  were  born,  as  shown  by  the  records  of 
Sunderland. 

About  175 1  Reuben  removed  to  Ashfield,  as  on  the 
records  of  that  town  are  found  the  names  and  dates  of 
birth  of  all  his  children  except  the  first  two,  his  third  child, 
Reuben,  Jr.,  being  born  in  Ashfield,  Feb.  12th,  1752,  and 
his  youngest  David  in  1763.  About  this  time  Reuben  pur- 
chased of  his  father,  Richard  Ellis,  a  lot  of  land  known  as  No. 
56  of  the  50  acre  "Rights"  as  the  land  was  then  divided. 
The  deed  was  dated  Dec.  25th,  1751.  This  probably  is 
a  part  of  the  farm  where  Reuben  lived  and  raised  his 
family,  and  where  after  his  death  his  youngest  son,  David 
Ellis,  lived  until  1818,  when  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Jesse 
Ranney  and  removed  to  Springfield,  Erie  Co.,  Penn. 

Reuben  Ellis  was  a  man  of  worth  and  highly  respect- 
ed. In  the  French  and  Indian  War  from  1754  ^^  ^757  he 
was  an  ensign  in  the  Colonial  Service  and  was  in  several 
engagements.  On  one  occasion,  himself  and  several  com- 
panions took  captive  a  squad  of  French  soldiers.  Two  of 
the  guns  taken  were  retained  by  Reuben  and  were  in  the 
possession  of  his  sons,  Benjamin  and  Jonathan,  60  years 
afterwards.  They  were  old  fashioned  guns,  but  would  carry 
a  ball  with  great  accuracy  over  a  mile.  When  the  Rev- 
olutionary war  for  American  independence  was  opened 
he  was  too  old  for  military  service,  but  records  in  posses- 
sion of  his  descendants  show  that  he  contributed  liberally  to 
the  support  pf  the  cause.  His  three  sons,  Benjamin,  Richard 
and  David  were  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  He 
died  April  21st,  1786,  in  the  58th  year  of  his  age.  A  stone 
in  the  Ellis  neighborhood  burying-ground*  opposite  where 
his  father  made  th^  first  settlement,  marks  his  grave. 

Reuben's  residence  was  built  upon  the  rise  of  ground 
about  60  to  80  rods  south-west  of  the  large  house    which 

♦This  burying-ground  was  nearly  opposite  where  Richard  Ellis  made  the  first  settlement  in 
this  town.  (See  page  ii.)  It  was  in  the  Ellis  neighborhood  and  will  be  mentioned  in  this  work 
as  the  "Ellis'  burying-ground."  In  after  years  it  was  known  as  the  Belding  burying-ground 
from  Mr.  John  Belding  having  long  resided  where  Richard  Ellis  first  settled.  The  Beldings 
have  all  left  Ashfield,  but  the  members  of  the  extensive  silk-manufacturing  firm  of  "Belding 
Brothers"  (grandsons  of  John)  were  raised  on  this  farm  and  as  they  occasionally  visit  Ashfield, 
this  burying-ground  is  kept  in  order  mainly  at  their  expense. 


70 

now  stands  on  that  farm  near  the  main  roadway.  This 
house  like  all  houses  in  those  early  times,  was  built  of 
logs.  The  remains  of  the  cellar  and  the  stone  chimney 
were  visible  as  late  as  1840,  when  the  writer,  a  small 
boy,  visited  that  locality.  It  is  said  that  up  to  the  pre- 
sent time  some  relics  of  the  old  orchard,  which  was  near 
the  house,  are  to  be  seen. 

Reuben's  farm  was  considered  one  of  the  best  in  this 
part  of  Ashfield,  and  he  displayed  good  judgment  in 
erecting  his  house  on  a  pleasant  elevation  of  ground. 
Its  healthfulness  was  evident  from  the  vigor  and  lon- 
gevity of  his  wife  and  children. 

His  farm  comprised  much  more  than  the  original  50 
acre  Right  which  he  purchased  of  his  father.  In  1818 
Mr.  Jesse  Ranney,  father  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Ranney  Ellis 
(240),  purchased  this  farm  of  David  Ellis  (32).  About 
1790,  David  Ellis  and  his  brother  Jonathan  (26)  built  the 
large  two  story  square  hduse  which  yet  stands  on  the 
northerly  roadway  from  Conway  to  Ashfield  Plain.  It  is 
said  that  the  brick  used  in  the  construction  of  the  chim- 
ney, arches,  oven  and  fire  places,  would  be  sufficient  to 
build  an  entire  house  on  the  modern  plan. 

Here  Mr.  Ranney  raised  his  family  of  ten  children. 
He  died  in  1857.  His  son,  Charles  Ranney,  succeeded  to 
the  farm,  which  he  sold  to  Mr.  John  Mann,  about  i860. 
Mr.  Mann  now  owns  and  resides  on  this  farm. 

(5.)  MEHITABLE  SCOTT,  wife  of  Reuben  Ellis,  was 
born  in  Sunderland,  May  3rd,  1722,  and  died  in  Ashfield, 
Dec.  2nd,  1804,  ^'^  ^^*^  ^3^  year  of  her  age.  Her  parents, 
Richard  and  Elizabeth  Scott,  were  among  the  early  set- 
tlers in  Sunderland.  She  was  said  to  have  been  a  good 
and  christian  woman.  It  is  probable  that  both  she  and 
her  husband  Reuben  were  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 
She  was  hurried  beside  her  husband  in  the  Ellis  neighbor- 
hood burying  ground.  Sketches  of  their  children  and 
families  may  be  found  from  Nos.   21  to  32. 


71 
(6.)    BENJAMIN    ELLIS,  second    child    of    Richard 
Ellis,  was   born    in    Easton,  Mass.,  Sept.    26th,    1730,   and 
died  Nov.  17th  of  the  same  year. 

(7.)  MARY  ELLIS,  third  child  of  Richard  Ellis,  was 
born  in  Easton,  March  28th,  1732.  Of  her  descendants  the 
writer  gets  no  trace.  It  is  most  likely  that  she  married 
in  the  eastern  part  of  Mass.,  and  was  but  little  known 
to  the  Ashtield  relatives.  That  she  lived  to  mature  years, 
is  quite  evident  from  a  letter  written  in  1850  by  Aaron 
Smith  of  Stockton,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  whose  grand- 
mother was  Remember  Ellis,  (9)  a  daughter  of  Richard. 
Aaron  Smith  was  born  in  Ashfield  in  1792.  and  in  the 
letter  above  referred  to  sa3-s:  "Richard  Ellis  had  eight 
children,  four  of  whom  John,  Jane,  Hannah  and  Remem- 
ber I  have  seen." 

(9.)  REMEMBER  ELLIS  SMITH,  fourth  child  of 
Richard  was  born  in  Easton,  May  ist,  1735.  She  was 
about  ten  years  of  age  when  her  father  settled  with  his 
family  in  Ashfield,  where  she  lived  the  rest  of  her  life. 
July  ist,  1756,  she  was  married  to  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith, 
a  son  of  Mr.  Chileab  Smith,  Sr.,  the  third  settler  in  Ash- 
field. The  following  account  of  their  marriage,  found  in 
the  records  of  the  Smith  family,  has  been  sent  to  the 
writer.  "  There  being  no  minister  or  magistrate  at  Ash- 
field at  the  time,  on  the  wedding  day  the  groom  took 
the  bride  behind  him  on  horseback  and  guided  by  marked 
trees  rode  from  Ashfield  to  Deerfield  to  have  the  ceremony 
performed.  His  father  Chileab  Smith  went  before  them  on 
another  horse  with  his  gun  to  guard  them  from  the  Indians. 
She  was  reported  in  the  family  as  a  person  of  uncommon 
worth." 

She  died  at  Ashfield,  Sept.  15,  1795,  aged  60  years. 
She  had  seven  children.     Her  husband 

(10.)  ELDER  EBENEZER  SMITH,  was  born  in 
South  Hadley,  Mass.,  Oct.  4th,  1734,  and  died  in  Stock- 
ton, N.  Y.,  July  6th,  1824.     He    was    a    Baptist    minister, 


72 

began  to  preach  when  19  years  of  age,  and  was  ordained 
Aug.  20th,  1 761. 

When  a  young  man  he  served  in  the  army  in  the  French 
and  Indian  War,  and  assisted  in  building  a  fort  around  his 
father's  house,  which  was  a  resort  of  the  neighborhood 
against  the  Indians  for  about  three  years.  After  the  death 
of  Remember  Ellis,  his  first  wife,  in  1795,  Elder  Smith  mar- 
ried Lucy  Shepardson,  June  15th,  1796.  She  died  Oct.  5th, 
1808,  aged  68  years.  Jan.  5th,  1809,  he  married  Esther 
Harvey,  and  she  died  Oct.  14th,  1814,  aged  78. 

Elder  Smith  was  a  pure  and  noble  man  and  was  held  in 
high  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  he  was  extensively 
known  throughout  New  England  and  New  York.  Elder 
Supply  Chase,  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  a  Baptist  minister  now  over 
86  years  of  age,  says:  "  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith's  is  one  of  the 
sanctified  names  in  the  Baptist  denomination."  Both  he  and 
his  father,  Chileab  Smith,  were  pioneers  in  the  Baptist  faith 
in  western  Mass.  The  persecution  they  suffered  on  account 
of  their  religious  belief  was  almost  incredible.  This  extend- 
ed over  a  course  of  about  ten  years  and  required  them  to 
make  repeated  journeys  to  the  General  Court  at  Boston  for 
redress  of  their  grievances.  Their  orchards  were  torn  up 
and  lands  sold  to  pay  tithes  for  the  support  of  other  churches 
than  their  own.  Warrants  for  their  arrest  on  fictitious 
charges  were  issued,  but  in  each  instance  they  were  com- 
pletely vindicated.  A  year  before  his  death  Elder  Smith 
wrote  quite  a  full  account  of  his  ministry  and  trials,  extracts 
from  which  may  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 

Elder  Ebenezer  Smith  was  a  son  of  Chileab  Smith,  Sr., 
who  was  born  in  South  Hadle}',  Mass.,  in  1708,  and  he, 
Chileab,  was  a  son  of  Preserved  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
i679,who  was  a  son  of  Preserved  Smith,  born  Jan.  27th,  1637, 
and  the  latter  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Henry  Smith,  of  Wethers- 
field,  Conn.,  who  emigrated  from  England  in  1636.  In 
crossing  the  ocean  they  encountered  such  violent  storms  that 
all  hopes  of  their  reaching  land  was  lost.  However  they 
were  providentially  preserved,  and  having  a  son  born  on  the 


73 
voyage,  they  gave  him  the  name  of  Preserved,  which  has 
been  a  frequent  name  in  the  Smith  family  in  every  genera- 
tion since. 

Mr.  Chileab  Smith,  Sr.,  was  a  very  positive  character, 
and  the  most  noted  man  in  Ashfield's  history.  On  account 
of  a  schism  in  the  church  at  Weathersfield,  Conn.,  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  congregation  removed  to  Hadley,  Mass.  Years 
afterwards  another  schism  took  place  at  Hadley,when  Chileab 
moved  to  Ashfield  in  1750 — then  called  Huntstown.  At  the 
age  of  80  years  he  was  ordained  a  Baptist  minister  by  his 
sons  Elders  Ebenezer  and  Enos  Smith.  At  the  age  of  85 
he  married  his  second  wife.  He  died  in  Ashfield  in  1800, 
aged  92  years.  His  first  wife,  and  mother  of  his  children, 
was  Sarah  Moody.  One  of  his  sons,  Chileab,  Jr.,  was  born 
in  Hadley  in  1742,  and  died  in  Ashfield  in  1843,  aged  100 
years  and  seven  months. 

Eider  Ebenezer  Smith  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel  72 
years,  and  preached  10,920  sermons,  and  rode  one  horse  over 
25,000  miles.  He  preached  in  Ashfield  nearly  40  years. 
When  76  years  of  age  he  made  a  visit  to  Cayuga  County, 
N.  Y.,  where  several  of  his  children  had  settled.  He  made 
the  trip  on  horseback  and  was  gone  120  days,  and  preached 
as  many  sermons  as  he  was  days  gone.  At  ThroopsviUe, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  he  preached  to  the  settlers  there  in  the 
hollow  of  a  large  buttonwood  tree*  which  held  an  audience  of 
32  persons.  From  this  as  a  beginning  the  Baptist  church 
there  was  founded. 

His  last  sermon  in  Ashfield  was  "delivered  May  22, 1815, 
before  a  large  assembly."  He  was  then  in  his  8ist  year. 
The  sermon  was  printed  and  reads  Hke  a  good,  old-fashioned, 
strictly  orthodox  discourse.  The  next  3'ear  he  removed  to 
Stockton,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  his  son  Ebenezer, 
Jr.,  had  settled  in  1815.  Every  Sabbath  thereafter,  until  his 
death,  he  rode  his  horse  to  the  place  of  worship.  He  died 
at  the  house  of  his  son  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  July  6th,  1824,  aged  89 


♦1  was  at  the  tree  in  1813.     There  was  a  door  on  one  side. 

— \_Li:ttir /roiH  Aaron  Smith,  1850. 


74 

year§,  9  months,  and  two  days,  in  the  full  vigor  of  his  mental 
powers,  and  as  full  of  honors  as  of  years.  While  he  de- 
plored his  lack  of  educational  privileges  in  his  youth,  he 
knew  the  advantages  of  early  education  and  his  eldest  son. 
Preserved,  and  youngest  son,  Richard,  went  to  Brown  Uni- 
versity, where  they  graduated.  He  raised  seven  children, 
and  a  year  before  his  death  estimated  his  posterity  then  liv- 
ing at  100  souls.  Personally  Elder  Smith  was  about  five 
feet  eight  inches  tall,  thick  set  and  dark  complexioned.  For 
an  account  of  his  children  and  their  descendants,  see  Nos. 
34  to  46.  For  a  more  full  account  of  the  Smiths  of  Ash- 
field,  see  Appendix. 

(11.)  JANE  ELLIS  PHILLIPS,  third  daughter  of 
Richard  EUis,  was  born  in  Easton,  Nov.  nth,  1737.  She 
probably  was  married  in  Easton,  as  all  her  eight  children 
were  born  there.  In  after  years  several  of  her  children 
settled  in  Windham  Co.,  Vermont.  After  the  death  of  her 
husband,  in  1805,  she  lived  in  Newfane,  Vt.,  many  3'ears. 
At  the  time  of  her  death  she  was  living  with  her  son, 
John  Phillips,  Jr.,  in  Marlboro,  Vt.,  which  is  about  25  miles 
north  of  Ashfield,  Mass.  One  of  her  grandsons,  James 
Charter,  of  Williamsville,  Vt.,  now  77  years  of  age,  writes 
"  I  was  well  acquainted  with  her.  She  was  a  very  devoted 
Christian  of  the  Baptist  denomination."  She  lived  to  the 
age  of  95  years.  She  was  very  smart  and  could  walk  a 
mile  up  to  a  week  of  her  death.  She  was  of  medium  height 
and  weight,  light  complexion  and  blue  eyes.  For  an  ac- 
count of  her  children  see  Nos.  47  to  61.       Her  husband 

(12.)  JOHN  PHILLIPS,  was  born  in  Easton,  May 
2ist,  1734.  H^  ^^^^  '^^.  14th,  1805.  He  was  a  son  of 
Samuel  Phillips,  who  was  born  in  Easton  in  1702,  and  a 
grandson  of  Capt.  John  Phillips  of  Easton.  Whether  he 
died  in  Easton  or  in  Vermont  does  not  appear.  For  a  more 
full  account  of  the  Phillipses  of  Ashfield  and  Easton,  see 
Appendix. 

(la).  MATTHEW  ELLIS,  sixth  child  of  Richard  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Easton,  Dec.  19th,  1739.  He  was  but  two  or 
three  years  of  age  when  his  father  moved  to  Deerfield  and 


75 
but  seven  or  eight  when  he  settled  in  Ashfield.  From  no 
account  which  the  writer  can  obtain  does  it  appear  with 
certainty  what  became  of  Matthew  or  where  he  settled.  It 
is  known  that  after  the  death  of  his  mother  in  Ashfield  (then 
Huntstown)  his  father  removed  to  Colerain,  in  the  same 
county,  about  15  miles  north-easterly  from  Ashfield.  He 
took  with  him  his  two  youngest  children,  Hannah  and  Caleb. 
That  Matthew  also  went  with  them,  or  was  there  for  a  time, 
is  evident  from  a  charge  found  in  his  father's  account  book, 
under  the  date  of  Nov.,  1768,  in  acct.  with  "William  Clark, 
the  First:  *  To  stoneing  your  well  15  shillings.  To 
Matthew  one  day  at  ye  well  6  shillings  and  sixpence." 

It  is  probable  that  Matthew  Ellis  was  not  married  at  this 
time,  although  he  was  28  years  of  age,  for  no  trace  of  him 
or  his  descendants  are  found  in  Colerain.  Circulars  of 
inquiry  have  been  quite  extensively  sent  throughout  the 
States,  from  which  the  following  response  has  been  received 
from  Indiana.  Whether  the  writer  is  one  of  the  descendants 
of  Matthew  Ellis  of  Ashfield,  has  not  as  yet  been  decided 
but  it  seems  probable  that  such  is  the  case.  Further  inquiry 
will  be  made,  the  result  of  which  will  have  to  be  deferred  to 
the  Appendix,  as  it  is  too  late  for  this  part  of  the  book: 

Jackson,  Tipton  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  16th,  1885. 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  before  me  a  circular  lianded  to  my  son,  W.  D.  Ellis, 
making  inquiries  about  the  descendants  of  Richard  Ellis,  of  Ashfield,  Mass. 
My  father's  name  was  Eliphalet  and  his  father  was  Matthew  Ellis,  who  was, 
I  think  a  son  of  Richard  Ellis  of  Ashfield.  My  father  Eliphalet  was  born  in 
1787,  and  settled  in  Indiana,  about  the  year  1822,  and  died  in  1844.  I  have 
heard  him  speak  of  Ellisburg,  and  of  his  brothers  Enos,  Seth  and  Levi,  and 
sisters  Ann  and  Sarah,  but  I  do  not  know  where  they  lived.  His  children  were 
George,  born  1815,  Ann,  1817,  William,  1819,  Enos,  1821.  David,  1823. 
Matthew,  1830,  Reuben  (myself)  1S34,  Levi,  1836,  and  Sally,  183S. 

My  father,  Eliphalet  Ellis,  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  in  the 
battle  of  Sackett's  Harbor.  I  think  he  wa,s  born  in  New  York  or  Vermont. 
My  older  brothers  are  all  dead  and  I  have  no  knowledge  of  any  more  distant 
relatives.     I  will  make  inquiries  and  let  you  know  if  I  learn  anything  further. 

Yours  &c.,  REUBEN   ELLLS. 

To  Dr.  E.  R.  Ellis,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Note. — My  aunt,  Sarah  Fulton  Franklin  [95],  of  Guilford,  Vt.,  used  to  say  that:  "Levi 
Ellis  and  one  they  called  "  Liph'  FUis  [most  likely  Eliphalet,]  were  in  the  battle  of  Sackett's 
Harbor,  Jefferson  Co..  N.  Y.  [May  29,  1813.]  'Liph'  was  then  living  in  or  near  Carthage, 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  V." — Letter  from  Robert  Fulton^  Green  River,  I't.,  April,  iSSb. 


*  "Richard  Ellis  lived  near  Mr.  Clark's.  My  father  bought  the  farm  of  Wm.  Clark. 
I  have  been  many  times  to  the  well  spoken  of.  I  was  born  here  in  1812.  My  father,  grand- 
father and  great  grandfather  have  lived  here  since  the  first  settlement  of  the  town.  There 
are  no  Fultons  or  Ellises  here  now." — Letter  /rout  Hugh  B.  Miller,  Colerain,  yune,iS8j. 


76 

Jabez  Franklin,  of  Guilford,  Vt.,  now  90  years  of  age, 
who  married  Sarah  Fulton,  of  Colerain,  a  grand-daughter 
of  Richard  Ellis,  says  that  "  some,  of  the  ElHses  moved  into 
Vermont,  but  he  has  lost  the  run  of  them."  If  these  were 
related  to  Richard  Ellis  they  must  have  been  descendants  of 
Matthew,  as  all  the  other  Ellis  families  are  accounted  for. 

(15).  LIEUT.  JOHN  ELLIS,  seventh  child  of  Rich- 
ard Ellis,  was  born  in  Deerfield,  Mass.,  Jan.  23rd,  1742,  and 
died  in  Ashfield,  Aug.  17th,  1827,  aged  85  years. 

He  said  his  father  moved  from  Deerfield  to  Ashfield 
when  he  was  three  years  old.  July  19th,  1763  (records  of 
Ashfield)  he  married  Mary*  Dimick.  About  this  date  he 
bought  the  farm  100  rods  west  of  the  corners  where  his 
father  first  settled.  He  built  a  log  house  about  15  rods 
west  of  where  the  present  farmhouse  now  stands,  in  which 
all  his  family  were  raised.  Remains  of  this  log  house  were 
visible  up  to  40  years  ago.  About  1795  ^^^  present  house 
was  built,  in  which  he  resided  until  his  death.f  He  was  a 
man  of  quite  large  business  capacity  for  his  time.  Besides 
farming  he  engaged  in  the  milling  business.  On  Bear  river, 
which  runs  through  the  north  part  of  his  farm,  he  had  a  saw 
mill,  and  lower  down  the  stream,  about  20  rods  below  the 
roadway  bridge,  was  the  old  grist  mill  erected  by  his  father 
and  the  Smiths,  which  was  later — about  the  time  of  the 
Revolutionar}^  war — in  his  charge.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
to  declare  for  the  Independence  of  the  Colonies  and  to  lake 
up  arms  in  behalf  of  the  cause.  At  this  day  we  can  hardly 
appreciate  the  moral  heroism  required  of  the  Colonics  to 
break  away  from  and  resort  to  arms  against  the  mother 
country.  At  first  many  of  the  old  and  influential  residents 
of  Ashfield  were  opposed  to  the  rebellion,  as  they  called  it. 
Families  were  divided  and  near  and  dear  relatives  opposed 

*This  name  is  also  written  Molly  and  Polly  in  various  instances  among  the  early  genera- 
tions. 

tMr.  Charles  Rogers  now  owns  and  resides  on  this  farm.  In  the  rear  of  the  house  stands 
an  apple-tree  ten  feet  arid  six  inches  in  circumference,  six  feet  above  the  ground.  This  tree, 
some  years,  produces  75  bushels  of  apples,  and  Mr.  Lewis  Kllis  of  Belding,  Mich.,  who  was 
born  on  this  place  in  1811,  says  that  in  the  early  years  of  his  recollection  it  had  been  known  to 
grow  150  bushels  annually.  It  may  be  said  that  the  hill-sides  of  that  mountainous  region 
were  famous  for  growing  fruit,  principally  apples. 


77 

each  other  in  the  early  part  of  the  conflict.  Some  of  the 
most  noted  and  outspoken  tories  in  Ashfield  had  sons  who 
had  already  gonfe  to  the  front  in  the  patriot  army,  and  had 
laid  down  their  lives  in  its  service. 

Lieut.  John  Ellis  was  commissioned  an  oflicer  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution  and  did  service  during  the  whole  conflict. 
He  was  in  several  engagements  in  Eastern  New  York  about 
Saratoga  and  Lakes  George  and  Champlain.  From  1777 
to  1780  he  was,  a  portion  of  the  time,  detailed  for  home 
duty  in  raising  recruits  and  provisions  to  carry  on  the  war. 
In  the  Appendix  will  be  found  some  interesting  accounts 
left  by  him,  bearing  on  this  subject.  He  was  said  to  have 
been  a  man  of  good  judgment  and  large  influence,  which 
he  exerted  most  judiciously  in  the  support  of  the  cause 
of  independence.  He  understood  and  acted  upon  the 
highest  principles  of  liberty.  At  various  times  irrespon- 
sible but  over-zealous  patriots  proposed  violence  toward 
some  of  the  leading  tories.  Lieut.  Ellis  condemned  this 
vigorously  and  declared  that  every  man's  liberty  was  sacred 
so  long  as  he  committed  no  overt  acts  ot  hostility  to  the 
cause  of  independence.  About  1800  he  visited  Central 
New  York,  where  he  bought  tracts  of  land  on  which  two 
of  his  sons  settled.  About  this  time  there  was  quite  an 
emigration  from  Ashfield,  many  of  the  residents  seeking 
new  homes  in  Cayuga  and  Onondaga  Counties,  N.  Y. 
Among  these  were  several  of  the  Ellises,  Annables,  Bart- 
letts,  Phillipses  and  others  from  the  Ellis  neighborhood  in 
Ashfield.  Of  these  mention  will  be  made  in  other  parts  of 
this  work.  Lieut.  John  Ellis  in  personal  appearance  was 
rather  short  in  stature,  thick  set  and  of  a  hardy  and 
vigorous  constitution.  He  was  a  Methodist  in  religious 
belief  and  a  class  leader,  so  called,  among  the  members.  '] 
Headstones  in  the  Ellis  burying  ground  mark  the  graves  ,v^-, 

of  himself  and  wife.  For  sketches  of  his  children,  see  Nos. 
63  to  75. 


78 
(16).  MOLLY  DIMICK,*  wife  of  Lieut.  John  Ellis,  of 
Ashfield,  was  born  in  Barnstable,  Mass.,  Dec.  6th,  1838, 
and  died  in  Ashfield,  Sept.  8th,  1827.  At*  what  time  she 
came  to  Ashfield  does  not  appear,  but  probably  about  a 
year  before  her  marriage,  for  her  brother-in-law,  Samuel 
Annable,  Jr.,  who  married  her  older  sister  Desiah.  settled 
in  Ashfield  about  1762.  It  is  probable  that  Molly  or 
Mary  Dimick  came  at  the  same  time.  She  was  from 
"the  Cape,"  as  Barnstable  Co.  was  called.  Old  letters 
from  relatives  there  indicate  that  she  had  brothers,  Edward, 
Charles,  and  Constant  Dimick  in  or  near  Barnstable,  and  an 
older  sister,  who  married  an  Agry,  who  lived  in  Hollowell, 
Maine.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  a  very  devoted  mother,  a  respected 
and  beloved  neighbor,  and  a  sincere  Christian  woman. 

(17).  HANNAH  ELLIS  FULTON,  eighth  child  of 
Richard  Ellis,  was  born  Oct.  13th,  1750,  and  died  in 
Guilford,  Vt.,  in  1839.  After  the  death  of  her  mother 
in  Ashfield  her  father  removed  to  Colerain.f  She  went 
with  him  and  her  youngest  brother  Caleb.  She  was  then 
about  15  years  of  age  and  was  her  father's  housekeeper 
until  her  marriage  in  1772  to  James  Fulton,  of  Colerain. 
They  lived  in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town,  where  they 
raised  a  family  of  ten  children.  She  lived  here  until  the 
death  of  her  husband,  when  she  went  to  her  daughter, 
Sarah  (95)  in  Guilford,  Vt.  She  was  rather  short,  weight 
160  lbs.,  and  of  fair  complexion.  For  an  account  of  her 
children,  see  Nos.  77  to  95.      Her  huband, 

(18).  JAMES  FULTON,  was  born  May  24th,  1749, 
and  died  in  Colerain,  March  20th,  1834.  He  was  a  son  of 
Robert  Fulton,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the 
town.  In  early  times  the  Fultons  were  numerous  and 
influential  in  Colerain.  The}'^  lived  in  the  north-east  part 
of  the  town.  In  Richard  Ellis'  account  book  are  found 
the  names  of    William,  John,   Robert   and   Sarah  Fulton, 

•The  name  Dimick  is  found  in  old  writings,  Dimock.  Dimmick  and  Dymock.  Elder 
Thomas  Dymock  was  early  identified  with  the  history  of  Barnsuble.  He  died  in  i6s8  leaving 
several  children.  He  was  probably  the  ancestor  of  all  the  Dimicks  of  the  Cape.  A  further 
account  of  them  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 

tThis  town  probably  received  its  name  from  Colerain,  Antrim  Co.,  in  the  extreme  north 
of  Ireland,  from  whence  some  of  its  earliest  settlers  emigrated. 


79 
residents  there  previous  to  the  Revolution.  James  Fulton  was 
a  farmer,  as  were  nearly  all  the  residents  of  Colerain  at  that 
time  and  up  to  the  present.  He  was  tall  and  lar^e,  weight 
about  200  lbs.,  blue  eyes,  fair  complexion,  and  curly  hair, 
which  he  wore  long  done  up  in  a  cue,  the  Continental  stvle. 

(19.)  CALEB  ELLIS,  ninth  and  youngest  child  of 
Richard  Ellis,  was  born  August  i6th,  1754,  ^"^  ^^^^  i" 
Ellisburg,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  March,  1813. 

It  is  not  probable  that  he  was  born  in  Ashfield,  for 
at  the  time  of  his  birth  the  settlers  of  that  town  had  gone 
to  the  older  settlements,  to  avoid  the  Indians  during  the 
period  of  the  French  and  Indian  war.  However  this  may 
be,  it  is  evident  that  he  was  with  his  father  in  Colerain 
early  in  life,  and  on  the  24th  of  Jan.,  1777,  at  which  date 
his  name  is  found  in  his  father's  books.  He  was  then  22 
years  of  age.  He  early  joined  the  Revolutionary  army,  in 
which  he  served  several  campaigns.  He  was  under  Gen- 
erals Gates  and  Ethan  Allen  at  Lake  Champlain,  Ticonde- 
roga,  and  when  Burgoyne  surrendered.  He  served  through 
most  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  About  i779  he  married 
Mary  Crouch  and,  it  is  said,  lived  for  some  time  in  Vermont. 
He  next  moved  to  Oneida  Co.,  N.Y.,  near  Litchfield,  and  in 
1795  he  settled  permanently  in  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  at  a 
place  which  was  named  after  him,  Ellisburg.  Here  he  pur- 
chased 500  acres  of  land  and  built  a  grist  mill.  This  was  his 
home  until  his  death  in  1813.  He  probably  learned  the  mill- 
ing business  with  his  father.  It  is  evident  that  he  was  a  man 
of  industry,  courage,  and  perseverance,  for  it  requires  all 
these  qualities  to  succeed  in  so  wild  and  remote  a  region 
as  Jefferson  County  was  when  he  settled  there.  Here  he 
raised  his  family  of  eleven  children,  and  quite  a  number  of 
his  descendants  now  reside  there  and  at  Belleville,  in  the 
same  county.     (See  Nos.  97  to  118). 

(20.)  MARY  CROrCH,  wife  of  Caleb  Ellis  of  Ellisburg, 
N.  Y.,  was  born  Aug.  4th,  1757.  Where  she  was  born  or 
where  married  does  not  appear  from  any  records  found.  She 
died  in  Ellisburg,  N.Y.,  in  April,  181 3.  She  and  her  husband 
are  said  to  have  been  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 


8o 
THIRD  GENERATION. 

Children  of  Reuben   Ellis  14).  of  AHhfield,  and   their   wives. 
Grandchildren  of  Richard  Ellis,  from  Kos-  21  to  32. 

(21.)  MARTHA  ELLIS,  first  child  of  Reuben  and  Me- 

hitable  Ellis  was  born  in  Sunderland,  Mass.,  in  1750.  She 
was  a  mute  (deaf  and  dumb)  and  never  married.  After  the 
death  of  her  parents  in  Ashfield  she  resided  with  her  young- 
est brother  David  Ellis,  and  removed  with  him  to  Spring- 
field, Erie  Co.,  Penn,,  in  i8i8,  where  she  died  in  1832.  She 
was  a  very  industrious,  conscientious  and  Christian  woman. 

(22.)  BENJAMIN  ELLIS,  second  child  of  Reuben  Ellis 
of  Ashfield,  was  born  in  Sunderland,  May  7th,  1751. 

March  15th,  1774,  he  married  Ruth  Pike  in  Ashfield, 
where  their  two  oldest  children — Stephen  and  Lurenca — 
were  born  ;  the  last  named,  born  Jan.  loth,  1777.  About 
this  time  he  joined  the  Revolutionary  army  and  was  a  sol- 
dier several  years. 

His  principal  occupations  were  farming  and  milling.  In 
the  early  part  of  his  married  life  he  lived  in  Deerfield,  Mass., 
where  most  of  his  eight  children  were  born.  In  1800  he 
purchased  a  large  farm  in  Sempronius,*  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
which  he  divided  with  his  brother  Jonathan,  where  they  both 
settled. 

Benjamin  soon  after  built  a  small  grist  mill  at  Montville, 
near  his  farm,  which  he  operated  several  years,  and  where 
his  sons  Stephen,  Moses  and  Benjamin,  Jr.,  learned  the  mill- 
ing business,  which  they  followed  long  afterwards. 

In  1818  Stephen  and  Moses  Ellis  removed  to  North  Bend, 
on  the  Ohio  river,  a  few  miles  below  Cincinnati,  where  they 
rented  a  farm  of  General  (afterwards  President)  Harrison, 
and  where  they  bpilt  a  grist  mill. 

In  1825  Benjamin  followed  his  sons  to  North  Bend,  and 
in  1832  they  all  removed  to  Fayette  Co.,  Indiana,  where 
Benjamin  was  Postmaster,  at  Plum  Orchard  in  Fayette  Co., 

*Sempronius  at  that  lime  included  several  townships  of  land.  This  farm  is  in  what  is 
now  called  Niles,  and  is  about  three  miles  north  of  Moravia. 


8i 

up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  About  1785  his  wife  Ruth  died, 
and  he  married  Lois  Mann,  who  is  said  to  have  been  of  the 
family  of  which  Hon.  Horace  Mann,  once  president  of  An- 
tioch  College,  Ohio,  was  a  member.  He  probably  married 
Miss  Mann  in  Deerfield,  Mass.,  or  thereabout.  She  was  the 
mother  of  his  three  youngest  children  —Reuben,  Mehitable 
and  Chelometh.     The  date  of  her  death  is  not  given. 

For  his  third  wife  Benjamin  Ellis  married  Mrs.  Zilpha 
Mills  in  1822,  in  Sempronius.  She  was  a  widow  with  one 
daughter.  After  Benjamin's  death  in  Indiana  in  1835,  she 
and  her  daughter  removed  to  Illinois  about  1837.  Benjamin 
Ellis  was  said  to  have  been  a  remarkably  pure  and  upright 
man,  of  rare  intelligence  and  excellent  memory.  For  a 
sketch  of  his  children  see  Nos.  119  to  132. 

(23.)  RUTH  PIKE,  first  wife  of  Benjamin  Ellis,  was  ac- 
cording to  town  records  of  Ashfield,  married  March  15th, 
1774.  When  and  where  she  was  born  is  not  recorded,  so  far 
as  the  writer  knows.  It  is  believed,  that  she  died  in  Deer- 
field  about  1784.  She  was  the  mother  of  Benjamin's  five 
eldest  children. 

(25.)  REUBEN  ELLIS  Jr.,  third  child  of  Reuben  and 
Mehitable  Ellis,  was  born  in  Ashfield  Feb.  12th,  1752.  He 
was  a  mute,  and  never  married.  When  his  brother  Richard 
moved  from  Ashfield  to  Tioga  Co.,  in  the  southern  part  of 
New  York,  about  1798,  Reuben  went  with  him  and  after- 
wards to  Tioga  Co.,  Penn.,  where  he  died  in  1832.  He  was 
a  very  industrious,  upright  and  sincere  Christian  man.  In 
1820  the  first  Baptist  Church  in  the  western  part  of  Tioga 
Co.,  Penn.,  was  organized  at  Delmar,  now  called  Shippen. 
Reuben  Ellis  was  the  oldest  member.  He  was  baptized 
June  20th,  1819.  He  was  about  80  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  his  death. 

(26.)  JONATHAN  ELLIS,  fourth  child  of  Reuben  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Ashfield,  Aug.  25th,  1754.  He  died  in  Sempro- 
nius, Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  181 2. 

He  lived  at  his  father's  home  and  with  his  brother  David 
built,  about  1795,  the  large  house,  which  now  stands  on  that 


82 

farm  in  Ashfield.  In  March,  1799,  being  then  about  45  years 
of  age,  he  married  and  removed  to  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  with  his  brother  Benjamin.  He  was  a 
mute,  but  could  make  a  sound  which  seemed  like  "  daunt," 
and  from  this  he  was  generally  known  by  the  name  of 
"  Daunt"  Ellis.  He  was  a  great  worker  and  it  is  said,  was 
the  most  expert  driver  of  cattle  anywhere  about.  His  oxen 
became  so  accustomed  to  him,  that  they  obeyed  him  with 
the  greatest  precision.  It  is  the  tradition,  which  the  writer 
has  received  from  several  of  the  older  families  who  knew 
of  him  that,  aside  from  the  infirmity  of  hearing,  "  he  was 
the  smartest  Ellis  ever  in  Ashfield." 

There  were  four  mute  children  in  Reuben  Ellis'  family, 
and  Jonathan  was  the  only  one  of  them  who  married.  He 
had  eight  children,  four  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  none  of 
whom  were  mutes,  and  it  is  a  gratification  to  be  able  to  say 
that  the  calamity  has  not  reappeared  in  any  of  the  descend- 
ants. It  is  said,  that  on  the  birth  of  each  child  he  made 
sounds  to  test  the  child's  hearing  capacity,  and  when  he 
found  it  perfect  in  this  respect,  he  manifested  the  greatest 
delight. 

Mr.  John  Allis  Ellis  of  Conneaut,  Ohio,  is  the  only  one 
of  this  family  of  children  now  living.  He  was  born  in  Sem- 
pronius in  1809.  It  is  said,  that  he  is  almost  an  exact  like- 
ness of  his  father  Jonathan,  which  fact  gives  additional  in- 
terest to  the  very  excellent  likeness  of  him  found  on  another 
page.  (See  No.  138).  For  sketches  of  Jonathan  Ellis'  chil- 
dren see  Nos.  134  to  140. 

(27.)  LOIS  ALLIS,  wife  of  Jonathan  Ellis,  was  much 
younger  than  her  husband.  She  is  said  to  have  been  a  de- 
voted wife  and  mother,  and  a  most  lovely  woman.  After 
the  death  of  her  husband,  in  181 2,  she  lived  on  the  farm  with 
her  children  for  several  years,  when  she  married  a  Mr. 
Wells  and  had  one  son.  Mr.  S.  V.  R.  Wells,  the  son,  now 
resides  in  Westfield,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  whom  his 
mother  lived  at  the  time  of  her  death  in  1840. 


83 
(28.)  SUBMIT  ELLIS,  fifth  child  of  Reuben  Ellis,  was 
born  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  Oct.  28th,  1756.  She  was  a  mute 
and  never  married.  She  went  with  her  brother  Jonathan  to 
Sempronius,  lived  with  him  and  his  children  until  his  death 
in  1812. 

She  then  went  to  her  brother  Richard  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  she  remained  six  or  seven  years,  after  which  she  re- 
turned to  Jonathan's  children  in  Sempronius,  with  whom  she 
lived  until  about  1833,  when  she  removed  with  her  nephew 
Abel  West  Ellis  (136)  to  Ripley,  Chautauqua  Co.,  where 
she  died  the  following  year.  She  was  a  very  industrious 
woman,  and  became  quite  an  expert  in  weaving,  as  nearly 
all  cloths  in  those  times  were  made  in  the  family.  She  de- 
vised and  wove  many  complicated  and  beautiful  patterns  for 
coverlids  for  beds,  etc.  Like  all  of  this  family  of  Reuben 
Ellis'  children,  she  was  a  very  pious,  sincere  and  devout 
person.  She  was  the  fourth  child  in  her  father's  family  who 
was  a  mute,  an  almost  unheard  of  affliction.  Th^  parents 
could  not  understand  why  they  should  be  subjected  to  so 
great  a  misfortune,  and  naturally  enough  had  felt  somewhat 
rebellious.  But  when  the  fourth  mute  child  was  born,  they 
agreed  that  it  was  for  some  good  purpose  of  an  All-wise 
Being  that  they  were  thus  afflicted,  and  that  it  was  their 
duty  to  be  reconciled  and  submit.  They  accordingly 
named  her  Submit.  Two  other  children  were  afterwards 
born,  neither  of  whom  were  thus  affected.  In  a  Note,  which 
will  be  found  on  page  88,  is  given  some  interesting  par- 
ticulars regarding  these  people. 

(29.)  Dea.  RICHARD  ELLIS,  sixth  child  of  Reuben, 
was  born  in  Ashfield,  Dec.  20th,  1760. 

December  12th,  1780,  he  married  Eunice  Chilson,  of 
Conway,  the  next  town  east  of  Ashfield.  He  lived  in  Ash- 
field a  few  years,  and  it  is  said,  operated  a  woolen-mill.  In 
1788  to  1792  he  lived  in  Shelburn,  a  town   joining  Ashfield 


84 

on  the  north,  where  he  was  engaged  in  milling.      This  mill 
was  on  Deerfield  river  near  the  Charlemont  line.* 

In  April,  1795,  Richard  Ellis  leased  of  Mr.  Levi  Stone  his 
grist  mill  in  the  town  of  Kent,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  for  one 
year.  Sometime  after  this  he  removed  to  Candor,  Tioga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  and  kept  a  tavern  for  a  dozen 
years  or  more.  In  181 1  he  went  t©  Delmar,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa., 
when  it  was  a  wilderness,  where  he  bought  a  large  tract  of 
land  and  built  two  saw  mills  and  two  grist  mills.  He  manu- 
factured lumber  on  Pine  Creek,  which  he  rafted  down  that 
stream  and  the  Susquehanna  river  to  the  older  settlements 
east  and  south. 

While  at  Delmar  in  1819,  he  lost  his  second  wife,  Chloe 
Ellis  in  an  epidemic  of  fever,  which  swept  over  that  part  of 
the  country  and  proved  fatal  to  nearly  all  who  were  attacked 
with  it.  It  was  known  ever  afterwards  as  the  "great  sick- 
ness," and  as  to  its  cause  was  never  fully  accounted  for. 
Several  years  later  he  removed  to  Potter  Co.,  (next  county 
west  of  Tioga),  where  he  built  a  saw  mill  and  grist  mill  at 
a  place  named  after  him  'EUisburg,  where  he  died  in  May, 
1841.  He  also  built  a  hotel  or  tavern  here  to  provide-  for 
travelers,  and  the  building  is  yet  standing. 

He  was  the  father  of  19  children,  15  of  whom  gr^w 
to  maturity  and  most  of  them  to  old  age.  Mrs.  Lucretia 
Stipp,  of  Scio,  Oregon,  wife  of  Elder  John  Stipp,  a  Baptist 
minister,  is  the  only  one  now  living.     (See  No.  165). 

Dea.  Richard  Ellis  was  a  man  of  great  industry  and 
enterprise.  He  was  a  Baptist,  as  were  most  of  his  children. 
When  the  church  was  organized  at  Delmar,  its  members 
were  nearly  all  composed  of  these  Ellises  and  their  relatives. 
Three  of  Richard's  sons,  John,  Consider  and  Richard  Jr., 

♦Adjoining  Richard  Ellis  on  the  north,  lived  Ebenezer  Ellis,  who  was  probably  the  father 
of  Dr.  Edward  Ellis  of  Meadville  Pa.  Dr.  Ellis  is  now  82  years  of  age  and  writes  that  "his 
father,Ebenezer,  once  had  an  interview  with  Richard  Ellis  of  Ashfield  (No.  i  of  these  sketches) 
and  that  they  could  trace  no  relationship."  About  this  time  there  were  several  Ellis  families 
in  Cioshen.the  first  town  south  of  Ashfield,  and  also  in  Huntington,  Hampshire  Co.  Dr.  Ellis 
of  Meadville  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  these.  In  Conway,  next  town  east  of  Ashfield,  lived 
Barzillia  Ellis  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century.  He  had  a  numerous  posterity,  most  of 
whom  settled  in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  75  years  ago  or  thereabouts.  Dr.  Samuel  G.  Ellis  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  Dr.  I)avid  E.  Ellis  of  Belvidere,  III.,  are  descendants  of  Barzillia.  The 
latter  was  not  a  relative  of  Richard  Ellis  of  Ashfield,  unless  through  English  ancestors. 
Barzillia  Ellis,  Sr.,  died  ia  Chautauqua  County  in  1825. 


were  ordained  ministers  of  the  Baptist  denomination. 
Richard  Ellis  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution  for  some  time. 
He  seemed  to  inherit  from  his  grandfather,  the  first  Richard, 
a  trait  which  many  of  the  Ellises  since  have  had,  that  of  be- 
coming pioneers  in  new  parts  of  the  country.  None  of  that 
name  now  live  in  Ashfield.  The  last  to  leave  was  Dea. 
Dimick  Ellis,  (72)  who  removed  to  Michigan  in  1847.  His 
children  had  all  left  some  time  before.  The  barren  and  in- 
hospitable region  of  Ashfield  and  thereabouts  made  it  abso- 
lutely necessary  for  all  the  surplus  population  to  get  out  early 
in  life. 

When  Richard  Ellis  settled  in  southern  New  York,  that 
country  was  very  wild.  When  he  went  to  Tioga  Co.,  Penn., 
that  whole  region  was  a  vast  wilderness,  very  difficult  to 
reach.  The  woods  were  full  of  game  and  the  streams 
abounded  in  trout  and  other  fish.  He  settled  on  Marsh 
Creek,  a  branch  of  Pine  Creek,  at  what  is  called  Big  Mead- 
ows. Ansonia,  a  station  on  a  branch  of  the  Blossburg  & 
Tioga  railroad,  is  located  where  Richard  Ellis  first  settled 
in  that  county. 

In  three  or  four  years  after  the  death  of  his  wife  Chloe, 
Richard  married  a  very  worthy  woman,  a  Mrs.  Stanton, 
widow  of  Judge  Stanton,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Ellis- 
burg,  Potter  Co.  After  her  death  he  married  a  widow 
Seeley,  who  was  the  mother  of  Betsey  Seeley  (No.  169) 
wife  of  Harry  Ellis  of  Ellisburg,  one  of  Richard's  sons. 

Richard  lived  here  until  his  death.  May  14th,  1841.  Of 
him,  Mrs.  Chloe  Rexford,  (No.  532)  one  of  his  grand- 
daughters, writes:  "I  recollect  him  well,  his  life  was  worthy 
of  imitation,  his  neighbors  found  in  him  a  wise  coun- 
selor, his  house,  heart  and  hand  were  always  open  to  the 
needy  and  unfortunate,  he  rejoiced  with  those  who  had  joy, 
and  sympathized  with  those  in  sorrow.  It  can  truly  be  said, 
we  have  few  like  him  now." 

For  sketch  of  his  children  see  Nos.  143  to  172. 


86 

(30.)  EUNICE  CHILSON,  first  wife  of  Richard  Ellis, 
was  from  Conway,  Mass.  She  was  born  Feb.  nth,  1763, 
and  died  Nov.  27th,  1791.  She  lived  in  Shelburn  at  the  time 
of  her  death,  but  she  was  buried  in  the  Ellis  ground  in  Ash- 
field,  where  a  headstone  now  marks  her  grave.  She  was 
probably  a  Baptist.     She  had  six  children. 

(31.)  CHLOE  CHILSON,  second  wife  of  Richard  Ellis, 
was  a  sister  of  Eunice.  Records  of  Ashfield,  sent  to  the 
writer  by  Henry  S.  Ranney,  Esq.,  who  has  been  town  clerk 
there  for  40  years,  give  the  following:  "Richard  Ellis  and 
Chloe  Chilson  of  Shelburn  were  married  Feb.  19th,  1792." 
Richard  had  lived  in  Shelburn  up  to  this  time,  when  he  may 
have  removed  to  Ashfield.  His  wife,  Chloe,  was  a  Baptist 
and  was  one  of  the  members  who,  with  her  husband,  organ- 
ized the  first  Baptist  church  in  Delmar,  Pa.,,  in  1819.  She 
had  13  children.  She  was  born  in  1767,  probably  in 
Conway,  and  died  at  her  home  in  Big  Meadows,  Delmar 
township,  Tioga  Co.,  Penn.,  August  9th,  1819,  with  a 
malignant  epidemic  fever,  which  prevailed  that  season.  One 
of  her  children  and  several  other  relatives  died  at  the  same 
time,  with  the  same  disease. 

(32.)  Dea.  DAYID  ELLIS,  seventh  and  youngest  child 
of  Reuben  Ellis,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Jan.  30th,  1763. 
When  16  years  of  age  he  was  drafted  into  the  service  of  the 
Revolutionary  army  in  which  he  served  several  years.  He 
was  a  faithful  soldier,  and  as  a  young  man  was  of  more  than 
ordinary  intelligence  and  trustworthiness.  On  the  20th  of 
May,  1794,  he  was  appointed  by  Samuel  Adams,  then  Gov- 
ernor of  the  commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  an  ensign  in 
the  Fifth  Regiment  of  militia  for  Hampshire  county. 
(Hampshire  then  included  Franklin  Co.,  in  which  Ashfield  is 
situated.)  In  Sept.,  1795,  Gov.  Adams  appointed  him  a 
lieutenr^nt  in  the  same  regiment.  July  8th,  1784.  he  married 
Sarah  Washburn,  and  settled  on  the  farm  with  his  father. 
The  latter  died  two  years  later,  and  his  mother  resided  with 
him  until  her  decease  in  1804.  David's  brother  Jonathan 
also  lived  with  him  until  about  the  time  of  his  marriage  in 


87 

i799>  ^"^  h^^  eldest  sister,  Martha  (21),  remained  with  him 
during  her  whole  life.  She  had  the  best  of  care,  and  was 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  her. 

David  Ellis  had  five  children,  all  of  whom  were  born  and 
reared  on  this  farm — the  old  homestead  where  Reuben,  his 
father,  first  settled  in  Ashfield  in  1751. 

In  1818  David  with  his  sons  William  (176),  and  David, 
Jr.  (180),  sold  out  all  their  interests  in  Ashfield  and  removed 
to  North  Springfield,  Erie  Co.,  Penn.  They  made  the 
journey  with  ox  teams  and  were  six  weeks  on  the  trip,  the 
men  walking  most  of  the  way.  When  they  settled  in  their 
new  home  it  was  an  unbroken  wilderness  of  heavily  timbered 
land.  By  dint  of  hard  labor,  energy  and  patience  all  the 
usual  obstacles  met  with  in  a  new  country  were  gradually 
overcome,  and  they  made  homes  where  himself  and  wife 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  days  in  comfort,  and  where 
many  of  their  descendants  now  live.  They  first  made  a 
clearing  and  planted  an  orchard,  some  of  the  trees  of  which 
are  yet  standing  to  show  the  industry  of  the  early  pioneers. 
His  daughter  Sarah  (178),  who  married  Capt.  James  Flower 
in  Ashfield,  in  1810,  removed  with  her  husband  to  Wesley- 
ville,  Erie  Co.,  soon  after  their  marriage,  and  it  is  probable 
that  this  event  was  one  of  the  reasons  which  induced  her 
father  and  brothers  to  settle  in  the  same  section.  David 
Ellis  was  an  ardent  Baptist  and  for  many  years  a  deacon 
in  the  church,  and  was  noted  for  his  Christian  example. 
He  lived  as  he  believed  God  directed  him  to.  Often  he 
filled  the  pulpit  in  the  absence  of  the  pastor.  He  was  a 
thorough  Bible  scholar,  it  being  said  of  him  that  he  could 
give  the  chapter  and  verse  of  any  Bible  quotation  given  him. 
His  large  family  Bible,  that  was  used  daily  in  family  wor- 
ship, was  brought  with  him  from  Ashfield,  and  is  now  in 
the  care  of  his  grand-daughter,  Mrs.  Louisa  Ellis  Patterson. 

(598-) 

He  always  retained  the  old  New  England  custom  of 
rigidly  observing  the  Sabbath  from  Saturday  at  sun-down 
to  sun-down  of  the  next  day.     His  religious  principles  were 


88 

carried  into  all  the  conduct  of  his  life,  and  he  was  widely 
known  for  his  integrity  and  reliability.  An  incident  in 
confirmation  of  this  was  told  by  one  of  his  grandsons  (572), 
who  settled  in  Wisconsin  over  40  years  ago.  The  latter 
desired  to  purchase  a  horse  on  credit  ot  a  man  who  had 
known  his  grandfather  years  before  in  Ashfield.  He  was 
informed  that  "  if  he  was  a  descendant  of  Deacon  David 
Ellis  he  could  have  the  horse  without  other  security  than  his 
word  as  to  the  terms  of  payment,"  thus  proving  that  a  good 
name  is  the  best  inheritance  for  children.  He  still  liveth  in 
memory,  and  his  life  on  earth  w^as  one  to  the  honor  of  his 
many  descendants. 

The  old  farm  bought  by  Deacon  Ellis  w^as  the  home  of 
his  son  William  (176,)  during  his  lifetime,  and  is  now  the 
home  of  his  grandson,  Joseph  ElHs  (585). 

Dea.  David  Ellis  died  in  North  Springfield,  in  1843.  I^or 
sketch  of  his  children  see  Nos.  174  to  182.  This  family  of 
Ellises — Reuben's  children — were  mostly  large,  tall  and  with 
dark  hair  and  complexion,  which  latter  they  most  likely  de- 
rived from  their  mother,  who  was  a  Scott  (5).  David  Ellis' 
wife 

m.)  SARAH  WASHBURN,  was  born  1764.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Deacon  Samuel  Washburn,  of  Ashfield. 
The  Washburns  were  a  prominent  family  in  Ashfield  in 
those  times  and  she  was  a  woman  of  intelligence  and  refine- 
ment. Like  her  husband  she  was  a  radical  Baptist.  It  is  re- 
lated that  she  often  and  expressly  cautioned  her  children  and 
grandchildren  against  the  Universalists,  a  caution  which  not 
all  observed,  as  some  of  the  latter  became  in  after  3'ears 
prominent  members  of  that  denomination.  She  died  in 
Springfield  in  1848,  aged  nearly  84  years. 


J^oU  to  page  8j. — In  regard  to  these  mute  sons  and  daughters  of  Reuben 
Ellis  of  Ashfield — Martha  (21),  Reuben  (25),  Jonathan  (26),  and  Submit  (28), — 
there  is  a  well-founded  tradition  worthy  of  further  consideration.  The  generation 
which  knew  them  in  their  early  years  has  gone  by,  but  some  are  yet  living,  who 
have  heard  these  reports  from  their  ancestors,  and  regard  them  as  well  founded. 
It  is,  that  these  persons  all  had,  what  was  called  among  people  in  the  neighbor- 


hood,  ^'Angels  rnsits."  It  was  claimed,  that  they  had  appearances  to  them  of 
spiritual  or  angelic  beings,  who  gave  them  instruction  in  the  way  they  should 
live.  At  the  time  of  these  first  occurrences  they  were  young  and  possessed  of 
all  the  vigor  and  gaiety  of  the  average  youth.  They  were  favorites  in  society, 
attended  most  of  the  balls  and  parties,  to  which  they  usually  had  "free  tick- 
ets". They  could  keep  time  to  the  music  and  go  through  all  the  changes  of 
dancing  in  perfect  order.  All  at  once  a  great  change  came  over  them,  they 
became  devoutly  pious,  abjured  all  dancing  and  frivolity,  and  said,  that  "angels 
had  appeared  to  them  and  instructed  them  how  they  should  live  to  avoid  sin 
and  become  upright  and  useful."  They  lived  to  old  age,  and  all  accounts  agree 
that  they  never  lost  their  religious  principles  or  pious  ardor.  From  central 
and  western  New  York,  Ohio  and  Michigan,  the  writer  gets  confirmation  of 
these  reports,  which  were  traditional  with  many  who  had  emigrated  from  that 
part  of  Ashfield  50  to  i<X)  years  ago,  that  these  mutes  "had  angels  visits,  and 
all  the  people  believed  it." 

Of  Jonathan's  (26)  claim  to  these  extraordinary  visitations  one  instance  is 
related,  which  convinced  many  of  the  people  of  their  truthfulness.  He  said, 
that  on  a  time  when  he  was  in  the  sugar-bush,  sitting  upon  a  log  eating  his 
lunch,  he  beheld  an  angel  coming  down  to  converse  with  him.  The  latter  gave 
him  some  good  instruction,  and  besides  told  him  that  across  the  Connecticut 
river,  which  was  about  20  miles  distant,  there  was  a  deaf  and  dumb  man  who 
wanted  to  see  and  talk  with  him.  Jonathan  went  home  full  of  enthusiasm  and 
told  the  family  of  the  occurrence,  and  began  to  make  ready  for  the  trip.  His 
parents  tried  to  convince  him  that  it  was  folly  and  deception  and  to  dissuade 
him  from  going,  as  he  was  a  total  stranger  in  the  locality  mentioned.  He  re- 
plied that  the  angel  had  offered  to  go  with  him  and  show  him  the  way,  and  he 
must  go.  He  dressed  in  his  Sunday  suit  and  started.  In  due  time  he  returned 
and  reported  that  he  had  found  the  man  he  went  to  see,  and  that  he  was  wait- 
ing and  expecting  to  see  him  and  that  he  had  had  a  pleasant  interview,  etc. 
As  a  memorable  and  convincing  part  of  this  occurrence  it  is  stated  as  a  fact, 
that  during  the  time  when  Jonathan  was  under  this  angelic  influence,  he  had 
his  speech  and  hearing. 

A  relative  now  75  years  of  age,  who  was  born  in  Ashfield  in  181 1,  and 
who  lived  there  half  his  lifetime,  and  whose  veracity  none  can  question,  in- 
forms the  writer  that  several  of  those  ancestors  who  knew  Jonathan  Ellis,  and 
his  brother  and  sisters,  told  him  of  these  occurrences,  substantially  as  related 
above,  and  that  they  all  believed  them  to  be  trae. 

All  this  was  100  years  or  more  ago,  long  before  modern  spiritualism  was 
heard  of,  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  people  in  those  times  were  much 
puzzled  thereat  and,  without  attempting  to  further  investigate  the  phenomena, 
let  it  pass  simply  as  "angels  visits,"  a  miracle  or  mystery  beyond  their  ken.  Of 
course  phenomena  such  as  above  related  are  not  in  accordance  with  Natural 
Latvs,  and  hence  if  susceptible  of  explanation  at  all,  must  be  in  accordance  with 
Spiritual  Laws  or  laws  of  mind,  which  it  is  no  assumption  to  say,  are  as  real 
as  are  those  of  a  material  character  with  which  all  are  familiar.  Probably  the  most 
profound  investigator  and  voluminous  writer  in  this  department  of  learning 


90 

which  the  world  has  ever  known,  is  Swedenborg,  who  was  born  in  1688  and 
departed  this  life  in  1772.  It  has  occurred  to  the  writer  that  probably  one  versed 
in  his  philosophy  might  give  a  reasonable  explanation  of  such  phenomena  as 
above  related.  Accordingly  he  has  submitted  these  proof-sheets  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Frost  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  a  minister  of  the  New  Jerusalem  Church  (Swedenbor- 
gian).  also  to  Rev,  Elisha  Ellis  (627),  of  Westbury,  N.  Y.,  minister  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  to  Elder  John  Stipp,  of  Scio,  Oregon,  whose  wife, 
Lucretia  (165),  was  a  daughter  of  Richard  Ellis  (29),  of  Ellisburg,  Pa.  Elder 
Stipp  is  an  aged  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Each  of  these  reverend  gentle- 
men have  been  requested  to  give  their  views  on  the  subject.  If  they  respond, 
the  same  will  be  given  at  length  in  the  Appendix.  The  phenomena  mentioned 
are  of  a  very  interesting  character  and  are  well  authenticated.  It  is  presumed 
that  with  the  light  obtained  from  the  Scriptures  with  that  afforded  by  the 
revelations  and  investigations  of  these  later  times,  an  intelligent  explanation  of 
the  same  can  now  be  given. 


Children  of  Remember  Kills  Smith,  (9),  and  Klder  Khenezer 

Smith,  (10),  of  Ashfield,  and  their  husbands  and  'wives. 

Grandchildren  of  Richard  £llls.  From  Mos.  34  to  46. 

(34.)  IRENE  SMITH  ALDEN,  was  born  in  Ashfield, 
July  4th,  1757,  and  died  March  16, 1834.     ^^^  married  Isaac 
Alden,  of  Ashfield,  who  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  John 
,j»  Alden  and  Priscilla  Muggiag,  who  came  over  in  the  May- 

flower in  1620  and  whose  courtship  has  been  immortalized 
by  the  poet  Longfellow.  The  latter  left  a  numerous  posterity 
in  Massachusetts.  Several  of  them  were  residents  of  Ash- 
field in  early  times.  One  of  these  was  John  Alden,  whose 
farm  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  opposite  Reuben 
Ellis'  farm.  This  John  Alden  died  about  1840,  a  very  aged 
man.  He  was  probably  a  brother  of  Isaac  Alden,  men- 
tioned above. 

Irene  and  Isaac  Alden  had  nine  childen,  one  daughter 
and  eight  sons.     The  daughter  married  Dr.  John  Rathburn. 

(36.)  Rey.  PRESERVED  SMITH,  eldest  son  of  Elder 
Ebenezer  Smith,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  June  25th,  1759.  He 
died  Aug.  15th,  1834,  ^"  Rowe,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass. 

When  16  years  of  age,  at  the  beginning  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  he  entered  the  army  and  served  five  campaigns 


91 

as  a  soldier.      He  was  under  Gen.  Gates  and  present  at  the 
surrender  of  Burgoyne. 

He  was  early  imbued  with  a  desire  to  obtain  an  education, 
and  began  preparation  for  college  under  the  instruction  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Hubbard,  of  Shelburn.  For  some  time  he  taught 
school  in  the  winter  and  worked  in  the  summer  to  procure 
means  for  study.  He  entered  college  in  Providence,  Rhode 
Island,  and  graduated  in  1786.  Soon  after  he  commenced 
the  study  of  theology  with  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson,  of  Conway, 
Mass.  In  1789  he  settled  in  the  ministry  in  Rowe,  and  in 
January  the  following  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eunice 
Wells,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Col.  David  Wells,  of  Shel- 
burn. 

Although  his  parents  were  the  strictest  Baptists,  and  he 
was  reared  under  this  influence,  he  began  his  ministry  as  a 
Congregationalist.  In  1804  he  resigned  his  charge  in  Rowe 
and  the  next  year  settled  in  Mendon,  Mass.,  where  he 
preached  to  two  societies  or  churches  for  several  years. 
This  double  duty  he  found  too  great  a  tax  on  his  energies 
and  on  a  unanimous  invitation  from  the  church  in  Rowe  he 
returned  there  in  181 2.  About  this  time  the  Unitarian  con- 
troversy began,  and  from  his  love  of  free  inquiry  and  inde- 
pendent habit  of  thought  he  investigated  the  subject  fully. 
The  result  was  that  he  became  openly  a  Unitarian,  although 
he  preferred  the  name  purely  of  Christian  to  that  of  any 
sectarian  designation.   He  was  a  minister  for  forty-five  3'ears. 

He  had  two  children,  Rev.  Preserved,  Jr.,  and  Royal. 
The  latter  died  early  in  life,  about  1820.  The  eldest,  Pre- 
served, Jr.,  was  born  in  Rowe,  Aug.  ist,  1789,  and  died  in 
Greenfield,  Mass.,  in  1881,  aged  92  years.  Like  his  father 
he  was  a  Unitarian  minister  and  preached  in  Warwick, 
Franklin  Co.,  nearly  all  his  life.  He  had  his  faculties  unim- 
paired up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  remembered  well, 
and  often  related  an  interview  which  he  had  when  ten  years 
of  age  with  his  great-grandfather,  Chileab  Smith,  Sr.,  who 
died  in  Ashfield  in  1800,  at  92  years  of  age — a  remarkable 
event  of  two  lives  covering  a  period  of  173  years.     He  had 


92 

three  children:  Preserved,  Jr.,  who  now  resides  in  Dayton, 
Ohio;  Fayette,  who  is  a  lawyer  and  judge  in  Cincinnati,  O., 
and  Eunice  Wells  Smith,  who  married  Rev.  J.  F.  Moors,  a 
Unitarian  minister  who  resides  in  Greenfield,  Mass.,  where 
he  has  preached  for  twenty-five  years. 

(38.)  JEMIMA  SMITH  ANNABLE,  second  daughter 
of  Elder  Ebenezer  and  Remember  Ellis  Smith,  was  bom  in 
Ashfield,  March  i8,  1761,  and  died  in  Marcellus,  Onondaga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  13th,  1835.  She  married  Lieut.  Edward 
Annable,  of  Ashfield,  Nov.  24,  1782  and  had  a  family  of 
eleven  children.  She  was  a  very  pious  woman,  devoted  to 
her  family  and  of  rare  qualities  of  mind  and  heart.  She  had 
a  good  education  for  one  of  her  times,  and  it  was  said  was 
a  natural  mathematician  and  could  solve  problems  in  arith- 
metic and  algebra  mentally  with  more  rapidity  and  ease 
than  most  persons  could  with  figures.  She  was  a  great 
bible  student  and  critic,  and  understood  doctrinal  points 
thoroughly.  Her  children  were  all  born  in  Ashfield,  except 
Fernando  C,  the  youngest,  who  was  born  in  Aurelius, 
Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  he  is  the  only  one  living  at  the 
present  date. 

(.39.)  LIEUT.  EDWARD  ANNABLE,  husband  of 
Jemima  Smith  was  in  his  day  one  of  the  most  noted  men  of 
Ashfield.  He  was  born  in  Barnstable,  Mass.,  June  22,  1753, 
and  when  nine  years  of  age  his  father,  Samuel  Annable,  Jr., 
settled  in  Ashfield.  He  was  a  large  man  and  of  command- 
ing presence.  At  18  years  of  age  he  entered  the  Revolu- 
tionary army  and  served  seven  years  without  a  furlough.* 
He  was  at  Bunker  Hill,  Saratoga,  Brandywine,  and  at  the 
winter  encampment  at  Valley  Forge.  He  commanded  the 
company   which   relieved   Gen.   Anthony  Wayne  after  the 

•Lieut.  Edward  Annable's  patriotism  was  of  a  high  order  and  came  from  patriotic  ances- 
tors^ although  his  father  was  at  the  opening  of  the  Revolution  a  prominent  tory.  In  Freeman's 
"History  of  Cape  Cod"  is  found  the  following  record:  "In  Barnstable,  June  26th,  1776, 
Thomas  Annable  and  2a  others  issued  an  address  to  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Barnstable 
urging  them  to  aid  the  Independence  of  the  Colonies.  At  a  town-meeting  held  a  short  lime 
before  this,  the  tor\-  element  was  in  a  majority  and  voted  to  do  nothing  to  aid  independence. 
Mr.  Annable  and  the  others  protested  in  the  following  language:  '  And  we  request  that  this 
Protest  may  be  entered  on  the  town  book  to  let  posterity  know  that  there  were  a  few  in  this 
town  who  dared  to  stand  forth  in  tavor  of  an  injured  and  oppressed  country,  and  that  it  is  a 
matter  of  great  grief  to  us  that  ♦he  Cause  of  Liberty  is  treated  with  such  indignity  by  some  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Barnstable.'  " 


93 
surrender  of  Stony  Point,  May  31,  1779,  ^"^  was  with  that 
officer  when  it  was  recaptured  July  15,  1779.  He  was  one 
of  Andre's  guard  at  his  execution,  and  often  dwelt  on  the 
brave  deportment  of  that  unfortunate  officer.  He  said  that 
when  Col.  Schamel  told  him  to  speak  if  he  wished  to  say  "6  C  A  r>1  V 
anything,  Andre  raised  the  handkerchief  from  over  his  eyes 
and  said:  "Gentlemen  I  wish  you  all  to  bear  me  witness  that 
I  meet  my  fate  like  a  brave  man."  His  arms  were  tied  so 
slightly  that  with  some  difficulty  he  could  raise  the  handker- 
chief from  before  his  eyes. 

Lieut.  Annable  married  and  settled  in  Ashfield.  His 
father  was  Samuel  Annable,  Jr.,  and  his  mother  Desiah 
Dimick,  sister  of  Molly  Dimick  (16).  Samuel,  Jr.,  was  born 
in  Barnstable,  Mass.,  1717,  and  died  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y., 
about  1806.  His  father,  Samuel,  Sr.,  was  a  descendant  of 
Anthon}^  Annable  and  his  wife  Jane  who  came  over  in  the 
Anne*  in  1623.  Anthony  Annable  was  a  prominent  man, 
and  much  in  public  life.  He  died  in  Barnstable,  1674.  He 
had  six  children,  one  of  whom,  Samuel,  born  1646,  married 
Mehitable  Allyn  in  1667,  and  died  in  1678.  He  had  four 
children.  His  son  John,  born  1673,  married  Experience 
Taylor  in  1692  and  had  five  children.  Samuel,  son  of  John, 
born  1693,  was  the  father  of  Samuel,  Jr.,  of  Ashfield  and 
grandfather  of  Lieut.  Edward  Annable.f  A  more  full 
account  of  the  Annables  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 

The  children  of  Lieut.  Edward  Annable  and  his  wife 
Jemima,  were  Dimick,  born  Sept.  ist,  1783  (died  in  youth); 
Mehitable,  born  Dec.  3ist,T784;  Annar,  born  June  29th,  1786; 
Alcemena,  born  March  30th,  1788;  Rhoda,  born  Jan.  5th, 
1790;  Desire,  born  Jan.  6th,  1793;  Abby,  born  April  lolh, 
1795;  Dimick,  born  Nov.  loth,  1798  (died  in  youth);  Isabella 
and  Remember  (twins,)  born  Aug.  28th,  1801;  Fernando  C, 
born  Dec.  24th,  1805.  All  born  in  Ashfield,  except  the  last 
who  was  born  in  Aurelius,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y. 

*The  Mayflower  in  1620,  Fortune  in  1622,  and  Anne  in  1623,  were  the  ships  which 
brought  the  Pilgrims  to  this  country. 

tEdward  Annable's  brothers  and  sisters  were  Barnabas,  David,  Thomas,  Mehitable, 
Polly  (73)  and  Bethia. 


94 

Mehitable  Annable,  born  1784,  married  Lucius  Wheaton, 
and  had  a  large  family. 

Annar  Annable,  born  1786,  married  Isaac  Fish  and  had 
two  children. 

Alcemena  Annable,  born  1788,  married  Judge  Smith,  of 
Pompey  Hill,  N.  Y.  Two  of  her  daughters  married 
husbands  named  Ellis,  but  not  descendants  of  Richard  Ellis, 
of  Ashfield;  one  of  them,  Robert  Ellis,  lives  in  Pompey, 
Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Rhoda  Annable,  born  1790,  married  John  Fuller,  a 
merchant  of  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  7th,  1808.  She  died 
Jan.  19th,  1883,  aged  93  years,  at  the  residence  of  her  son-in- 
law,  Judge  Edwin  Lawrence,  of  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  She  was 
a  women  of  great  kindness  and  remarkable  intelligence,  and 
retained  all  her  faculties  up  to  a  short  time  of  her  death. 
Mr.  Fuller,  her  husband,  died  about  1825,  and  she  remained 
a  widow  ever  afterwards.  Her  children  were,  Edward  L. 
Fuller,  born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  1810,  died  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cai.,  1 85 1.  Desiah  Fuller,  born  181 3,  married  Anson 
Brown,  and  afterwards,  Caleb  N.  Ormsby,  who  died  many 
years  ago,  leaving  two  daughters  who  with  their  mother 
lived,  up  to  a  recent  date,  in  Brooklyn,  *N.  Y.  Sibyl  Fuller, 
born  Jan.  28th,  1819,  married  Edwin  Lawrence  Nov.  21st, 
1838.  She  died  March  20th,  1872,  at  Ann  Arbor,  where  she 
had  lived  from  the  early  settlement  of  that  town,  and  where 
her  son,  John  F.  Lawrence,  a  lawyer,  now  resides.  Her 
husband.  Judge  Lawrence,  died  there  in  1885.  Mrs.  Fuller 
and  her  children  and  their  families  were  highly  respected 
and  influential  people.  She  had  resided  with  her  daughters 
and  Judge  Lawrence,  in  Ann  Arbor  about  45  years.  The 
writer  met  her  first  while  a  student  at  the  University  of 
Michigan  over  30  years  ago  and  occasionally  since,  the  last 
time  being  a  few  weeks  before  her  death.  Her  life  was  such 
as  to  leave' a  fond  recollection  by  a  large  circle  of  relatives 
and  friends. 

Desire  Annable,  born  1793,  married  Rev.  John  S.  Twiss 
and  died  in  Union  City,  Mich.  She  had  a  son,  Edward 
Twiss,  M.  D. 


95 

Abby  Annable  born  1795,  married  William  Haines, 
became  a  widow  early  in  life.  She  moved  to  Leslie,  Mich., 
where  she  lived  with  a  daughter  who  married  Mr.  Russell 
a  merchant  in  that  village.  Her  son,  William  Haines,  is  also 
a  merchant  in  Leslie,  and  other  of  her  children  live  there- 
abouts.    The  date  of  her  death  is  not  given. 

Dimick  Annable,  born  1798,  died  in  Newburg,  N.  Y.,  in 
early  life.     He  left  no  children. 

Remember  Annable,  born  1801,  married  Peter  Weather- 
wax  and  lived  in  Phelps,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  many  years. 
Isabella,  her  twin  sister,  died  in  infanc}'. 

She  died  in  Phelps,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  3rd,  1884, 
in  her  83rd  year.  Her  husband,  Mr.  Peter  Weatherwax, 
died  in  1876.  She  was  buried  in  South  Butler,  Wayne  Co., 
by  the  side  of  her  husband.  She  had  resided  in  Phelps 
about  sixteen  years. 

Her  last  sickness  was  long  and  painful,  much  beyond  the 
usual  degree.  Her  youngest  daughter,  who  was  with  her 
all  her  life  writes:  "  I  think  that  I  am  not  overstating  when 
I  say  she  impressed  all  with  a  superior  mind,  noble  in 
thought,  generous,  kind  and  obliging.  There  was  a  great- 
ness in  her  whole  character  seldom  met,  her  equal  rarely 
found,  her  superior  not  often  seen.  Her  self-control  during 
the  weeks  of  agony  of  her  last  sickness  was  marvelous, 
ever  a  pleasant  word,  a  cheerfulness  that  was  suprising  with 
such  intense  suffering,  her  mind  clear,  thoughtful  of  and  for 
others,  occasionally  she  would  say  a  word  or  two  that  showed 
that  her  mind  wandered.  At  one  time,  soon  after  referring 
to  what  she  had  said,  she  remarked,  'I  have  many  queer 
thoughts,  but  so  far  have  managed  not  to  express  them,' 
This  will  give  a  slight  idea  of  the  power  and  greatness  of 
her  mind  and  the  mastery  she  had  over  it.  She  was  a  true 
Christian  woman  and  a  member  of  the  Christian  church 
over  50  years." 

She  left  six  children:  L.  F.  Weatherwax,  Port  Byron, 
N.   Y.;    D.  Weatherwax,  Northport,   N.  Y.;    Mrs.  C.  W. 


96 

Sprague,  Luther,  Mich,  (where  her  son  William  Sprague 
resides);  Mrs.  E,  L.  Bolles,  Vineland,  N.  J.;  Mrs.  T.  Finn, 
Scranton,  Penn.  and  Miss  Abbie  L.  Weatherwax,  of  Phelps. 
Fernando  C.  Annable,  born  1805,  is  the  youngest  child  of 
Lieut.  Edward  Annable  and  Jemima  Smith  his  wife.  He 
was  born  in  Aurelius,  N.  Y.,  soon  after  his  parents  had 
removed  from  Ashfield.  He  married  Betsey  Ranney, 
daughter  of  William  Ranney  of  Ashfield,  who  married 
Betsey  Alden,  a  daughter  of  John  Alden  who  lived  opposite 
Reuben  Ellis'  farm.  William  Ranney  was  a  son  of  Thomas 
Ranney,  a  brother  or  cousin  of  George  Ranney,  father  of 
Jessie  and  grand-father  of  Hannah  Ranney  (240). 

Mrs.  Betsey  Annable  died  in  1881,  aged  76  years.  Her 
husband,  Fernando  C,  now  resides  in  Almena,  Van  Buren 
Co.,  Mich.  They  have  one  son,  Edwin  Ranney  Annable,  a 
lawyer  in  Paw  Paw,  Mich.,  and  a  daughter,  Helen  Annable, 
who  married  John  Williams  of  Almena. 

Mr.  Fernando  C.  Annable  has  been  a  farmer  most  of  his 
life.  He  now  lives  at  Almena,  Mich.,  in  feeble  bodily  health, 
but  active  mental  powers. 

The  writer  is  indebted  to  him  for  much  valuable  informa- 
tion in  compiling  this  work. 

(40.)  RHODA  SMITH  MERRILL,  was  born  in  Ash- 
field, May  29th,  1762,  and  died  Feb.  21st,  1837.  She  mar- 
ried Jesse  Merrill  and  had  three  children,  all  daughters. 

(42.)  EBENEZER  SMITH,  Jr.,  fifth  child  of  Elder 
Ebenezer  and  Remember  Ellis  Smith,  was  born  in  Ashfield, 
April  I  St,  1766,  and  died  in  Cassadaga,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  May  24th,  1855  aged  89  years. 

He  married  Keziah  Elmer,  or  Elmore,  of  Ashfield  about 
1791,  and  had  seven  children.  She  died  in  Cassadaga, 
March  17th,  1870,  aged  93  years.  The  Elmers  were  one  of 
the  early  families  in  the  settlement  of  Ashfield.  Mr.  Wilson 
Elmer,  a  nephew  of  Keziah,  died  there  in  1885  an  aged  man. 
For  his  second  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Amanda  Ranney 
Richmond,  widow    of    Elijah    Richmond,   an  enterprising 


97 
citizen  of  Ashfield,  who  died  about  1850,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Elmer  were  married  about  1875,  and  lived  a  short  distance 
easterly  from  the  old  church  at  Baptist-corners,  the  Chileab 
Smith  neipjhborhood.  Mrs.  Elmer  died  in  1884.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Jesse  Ranney,  who  raised  his  family  on  the 
old  farm  of  Reuben  Ellis. 

Ebenezer,  Jr.,  moved  with  his  family  from  Ashfield  to 
Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  Oct.  1815.  Several  families  from 
the  Ellis  neighborhood  in  Ashfield  went  with  them,  namely: 
Philip  Phillips,  Israel  Smith  and  Daniel  Whitmore.  This 
was  just  about  the  close  of  the  war  of  181 2  and  the  country 
was  very  new  and  the  roads  bad.  They  were  over  a  month 
on  the  way  from  Ashfield.  Mr.  Smith  purchased  wild 
lands,  made  a  clearing  and  built  a  log  house.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  a  scholarly  man.  His  knowledge 
of  the  Bible  was  very  thorough,  so  irmch  so  that  he  was 
known  as  the  ''  Concordance."  There  was  not  a  passage 
of  Scripture  that  he  was  not  familiar  with  and  could  turn  to 
readily.     He  was  a  Baptist,  as  were  most  of  his  descendants. 

His  children  were  Aaron,  born  1792;  Quartus,  1796; 
Fidelia,  1798;  Gerry,  1803;  Rebecca,  1808;  Ebenezer  and 
Keziah  (twins,)  1813. 

Of  Aaron  Smith,  it  was  said  that  he  was  a  great  Bible 
student.  He  was  a  farmer,  but  gave  considerable  attention 
to  the  genealogy  of  the  Smith  family.  He  had  recorded 
the  names  of  over  11,000  of  his  kin.  It  was  said  of  him 
that  "he  knew  more  and  had  forgotten  fewer  names  and 
dates  than  any  man  of  his  times."  He  resided  most  of  his 
life  at  Stockton,  where  he  died  Sept.  23d,  1876,  aged  84 
years.  His  children  were  Laurilla,  born  1821,  died  1825; 
Lucretia,  born  1824,  died  1825;  Laura,  1826;  Lucy,  born 
1828,  married  a  Griffith,  and  died  1880;  Pamelia,  born  1830, 
died  1840;  Cyrus,  born  1831,  died  1877;  Milla,  1834; 
William,  1837;  Caroline,  1839;  Aaron,  Jr.,  1843.  The  last 
named  lives  at  Burnhams,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 


98 

Quartus  Smith,  born  1796,  lived  many  years  in  Stockton, 
N.  Y.,  and  died  in  1880.  He  married  Pomilla  Shepard. 
They  had  no  children . 

Fidelia  Smith,  born  1798,  and  died  1840,  She  married 
Elijah  Wood,  and  had  five  children:  Fidelia,  who  married 
Dr.  Alonzo  P.  Phillips,  of  Fredonia,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Ursula,  who  married  James  Rheem,  and  had  three  children 
— two  dead  and  one  now  living,  Mr.  Charles  Rheem,  in 
Oshkosh,  Wis.  Mrs.  Ursula  Wood  Rheem  married  for  her 
second  husband  Albert  G.  Blakeslee,  and  they  lived  in 
Dequoin,  111.  Elijah  married  Jane  McGregor.  Livonia 
married  a  Goulding  and  afterwards  Erastus  Bowen.  Her 
son,  Charles  L.  Goulding,  lives  at  Fredonia,  N.  Y. 

Gerry  Smith,  born  1803,  lived  most  of  his  life  in  Stock- 
ton, where  he  died  July  16,  1882.  He  married  Louisa  EUis, 
a  daughter  of  Barzillia  Ellis,  Jr.,  of  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Their  children  are  Hiram,  William,  Frank,  Flora,  and  David. 

Rebecca  Smith,  born  1808,  married  Freeman  Richard- 
son in  1830.  In  1854  they  removed  to  LaCrosse,  Wis., 
where  Mrs.  R.  now  lives.  Mr.  Richardson  died  in  1868. 
Their  children  were  :  Melissa,  died  in  1876;  Matilda,  Jasper, 
Squire,  and  Florilla.  The  last-named  married  Wm.  Gear, 
and  now  resides  in  LaCrosse  and  has  three  children,  Elsie, 
Ella,  and  Edna  Gear.  Mrs.  Rebecca  Richardson  now  lives 
with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Gear. 

Ebenezer  Smith,  born  in  1813,  died  in  Chautauqua  Co. 
in  1835,  unmarried. 

Keziah  Smith,  born  1813,  twin-sister  of  the  above,  mar- 
ried Arunah  Richardson,  brother  of  Freeman  Richardson. 
Their  children  were  Eliza  Ann,  who  married  John  Carpen- 
ter, and  lives  at  Cassadaga,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N. Y.  Lovina, 
married  Albert  Irons  ;  she  lives  at  Cassadaga.  Levant  and 
Truman  Richardson,  live  at  Burnhams,  N.  Y. 

(44.)  OBED  SMITH,  sixth  child  of  Elder  Ebenezer  and 
Remember  Ellis  Smith,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  April  6th, 
1770,  and  died  in  Stockton,  N.  Y.,  Oct.   17th,   1828.      He 


99 
married  Rhoda  Sears,  of   Ashfield.     Their  children  were, 
Priscilla,    Obed,   Aretus,    Keziah,    Daniel,    Irene   and  Pre- 
served. 

(46.)  RICHARD  SMITH,  youngest  child  of  Elder 
Ebenezer  and  Remember  Ellis  Smith,  was  born  in  Ashfield, 
June  20th,  1774,  ^"<^  ^'^^  i"  Ashfield  May  8th,  1800.  He 
was  a  physician,  and  never  married. 

He  was  a  graduate  of  Brown  University  at  Providence, 
and  was  a  very  scholarly  man.  He  was  very  proficient  in 
astronomy  and  mathematics,  and  it  is  said  once  wrote  an 
almanac. 

All  these  families — children  of  Elder  Ebenezer  and  Re- 
member Ellis  Smith — settled  in  Central  and  Western  New- 
York  early  in  the  present  century,  except  Rev.  Preserved 
Smith,  their  eldest  son,  who  lived  and  died  in  Rowe,  Mass. 


Cliildreu  of  Jane  e;1I1s  Phillips,  (ix),  and  John  Phillips,  (12), 

of  IWarlboro,  Vermont,  and  their  -wives  and  hus- 

tiands.    Grandchildren  of  Richard  Ellis. 

From  ^os.  47  to  61. 

(47.)  JOHN  PHILLIPS,  Jr.,  eldest  son  of  Jane  Ellis 
and  John  Phillips,  was  born  in  Easton,  Mass.,  Feb.  i6th, 
1761,  and  died  Aug.  23rd,  1841.  He  lived  many  years  in 
Marlboro,  Vermont,  where  he  died.  His  ciiildren  were: 
Anna,  Samuel,  Cyrus,  Ruth,  John,  Joseph,  Polly,  Sally  and 
Linus,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead. 

(49.)  MOLLY  PHILLIPS,  second  child  of  John  and 
Jane  Ellis  Phillips,  was  born  in  Easton,  Nov.  12th,  1763. 
Her  name  is  written  Polly  in  some  of  the  records.  No 
further  account  is  given  as  to  who  she  married  or  where 
lived. 

(53.)  PERCIS  PHILLIPS,  fourth  child  of  John  and 
Jane  Ellis  Phillips,  was  born  in  Easton,  July  2nd,  1767-  He 
died  in  April,  1829,  in  Vermont. 


(55.)  HANNAH  PHILLIPS,  born  in  Easton,  March 
14th,  1770,  and  died  Jan.  13th,  1850.  She  is  said  to  have 
married  a  Fulton. 

(57.)  MARCY  PHILLIPS,  sixth  child  of  John  and 
Jane  Ellis  Phillips,  was  born  in  Easton,  Sept.  22nd,  1773. 
Her  name  in  some  of  the  records  is  given  as  Mary.  She 
married  Joseph  Bryant.  She  died  in  Vermont,  Feb.  21st, 
1831. 

(59.)  PHEBE  PHILLIPS,  seventh  child  of  Jane  Ellis 
and  John  Phillips,  was  born  in  Easton,  Mass.,  Feb.  4th, 
1777,  and  died  in  Marlboro,  Vt,  Aug.  14th,  1863.  On  Sept. 
5th,  1797,  she  was  married  by  Rev.  Mr.  Lyman  to  James 
Charter  of  Marlboro.  The  latter  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Conn.,  in  1742,  and  died  in  Marlboro,  April  22nd,  1821. 

Their  children  were  as  follows:  Philena  Charter,  born 
Oct.  ist,  1798,  married  Asa  Worden  Nov.  14th,  1819,  and 
died  Oct.  23rd,  1880. 

Ruth  Charter,  born  June  6th,  1800,  and  died  March  6th, 
1802. 

Hannah  Charter,  born  April  7th,  1803,  married  Orrison 
Bruce  Feb.  21st,  1825,  and  died  June  3rd,  1884. 

John  Charier,  born  Nov.  26th,  1805,  married  Hannah  J. 
Yeaton  Sept.  12th,  1S30,  and  died  Dec.  5th,  1881. 

James  Charter,  Jr.,  born  May  30th,  1809,  married  Mary 
B.  Fillebrown  April  2nd,  1829,  in  Boston,  Mass.  Mrs.  Mary 
B.  Charter  was  born  in  Orrington,  Me.,  March  ist,  1813. 
She  and  her  husband,  James  Charter,  Jr.,  have  resided 
many  years  in  Williamsville,  Windham  Co.,  Vt.  Mr. 
Charter  has  the  old  family  bible  of  his  mother  and  grand- 
mother, Jane  Ellis  Phillips  (11),  and  he  has  kindly  sent 
me  records  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  and  their  descendants, 
which  were  not  to  be  found  elsewhere.  Mr.  Charter  is  a 
farmer  and  an  aged  man. 

His  children  are  as  follows:  Mary  Elizabeth  Charter, 
married  Elijah  Morse,  of  New  Fane,  Vt. 


tdi 

James  H.  Charter,  born  1832,  married  Mary  A.  Dutton, 
in  E.  Boston  in  1853,  and  Esther  L.  Worden  in  1870. 

Charles  M.  Charter,  born  in  Boston,  1837,  married 
Rebecca  Wyman  in  Boston,  Mass. 

Francis  H.  Charter,  bom  in  Boston,  1840,  married  Helen 
S.  Gallager. 

Anna  Viola  Charter,  born  in  Vermont,  1844,  married  N. 
J.  D.  Leavett,  in  Somerville,  Vt.,  in  1863. 

Herbert  F.  Charter,  born  in  Vermont,  in  1848,  died  in 
Brewer,  Me.,  1864. 

John  F.  Charter,  born  in  E.  Boston,  1852,  died  in 
Williamsville,  Vt.,  in  1876. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Charter,  Sr.,  in  182 1,  Mrs.  Phebe 
Phillips  Charter  (59),  married  Mr.  Joseph  Bryant.  They 
were  married  in  Marlboro,  Dec.  13th,  1831,  by  Rev.  E.  H. 
Newton. 

Mrs.  Phebe  Charter  Bryant  was  a  very  devoted  Chris- 
tian woman  of  the  Baptist  denomination. 

(61.)  SALLY  PHILLIPS,  youngest  child  of  John  and 
Jane  Ellis  Phillips,  was  born  in  Easton,  Mass.,  May  2nd, 
1780.     She  married  Joshua  Morse,  and  died  May  17th,  1862. 


Children  of  Meut.  John  Ellis,  (15),  of  Ashfield,  and  their 

husbands  and  -wives.    Grandchildren  of  Richard 

Ellis.     Prom   Bios.  6j   to   75. 

(63.)  HANNAH  ELLIS  WILLIAMS,  eldest  child  of 
Lieut.  John  Ellis,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  May  ist,  1764.  She 
died  in  Westport,  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  4th,  1839. 
About  1789  she  married  Apollos  Williams  of  Ashfield, 
where  they  lived  for  some  years,  when  they  settled  in  West- 
port,  which  is  on  the  western  shore  of  Lake  Champlain, 
where  they  lived  many  years.     Her  husband, 

(6-t.)  APOLLOS  WILLIAMS,  Sr.,  was  born  June  8th, 
1768.     He  was  married  in  Ashfield  where  he  lived  some 


id2 

years  before  and  after  that  event.     He  was  a  farmer.     He 
died  in  Westport,  in  1848. 

Their  children  were:  Rhoda,  born  1790;  Hannah,  born 
1793;  Daniel,  1795;  Apollos,  Jr.,  1797;  John,  1799;  Alpheus, 
1801 ;  and  Edward,  born  1804. 

Rhoda  Williams,  born  in  Ashfield,  Nov.  30th,  1790,  died 
in  Racine,  Wis.,  Aug.  7th,  1874.  ^^*^  married  Russell 
Phillips  of  Ashfield,  Jan.  2nd,  1808.  He  died  in  Racine, 
/April  15th,  1856.  They  lived  in  Ashfield,  in  one  house,  21 
years,  where  all  of  their  children  were  born.  They  went  to 
Wisconsin  in  1849,  to  their  son  John's  in  Sun  Prairie,  near 
Madison,  where  they  lived  five  years  and  then  removed  to 
Racine,  where  they  both  died.  Mr.  Russell  Phillips  was 
born  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  Aug.  31st,  1785.  His  father  was 
Thomas  Phillips,  Jr.,  who  was  a  son  of  Thomas,  Sr.,  born 
1712,  the  second  settler  in  Ashfield,  and  the  latter  was  a 
brother  of  Jane  Phillips  (2),  who  married  Richard  Ellis,  the 
first  settler  in  Ashfield.     See  Appendix. 

The  children  of  Russell  and  Rhoda  Williams  Phillips 
were  eight  in  number  as  follows:  Hannah,  born  1811;  Allen, 
born  1813;  John,  1815;  Monroe,  1817;  Galusha,  1820;  Mary, 
1823;  Sarah,  1825;  Elizabeth  A.,  1832. 

Hannah  Phillips,  born  May  i8th,  181 1,  married  Calvin 
Flower,  son  of  Phineas  of  Ashfield,  Nov.  28th,  1833.  She 
had  five  children — James  N.,  born  1835,  married,  is  a  lawyer 
and  lives  in  Chicago.  Phineas  A.,  born  1837,  lives  in  Sun 
Prairie,  Wis.,  and  is  a  farmer.  Ellen  J.,  born  1839,  ^^^^  ^^ 
18  years  of  age  in  Wisconsin.  George  A.,  born  1841,  died 
1844.  Edith  C,  born  1846,  married  Bradford  Hancock, 
resides  in  Chicago  and  has  two  children. 

Allen  Phillips,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  May  20th,  1813, 
married  Louisa  Cross  of  Ashfield,  where  he  alwa3's  lived 
and  where  he  died. 

John  Phillips,  born  181 5  in  Ashfield,  married  Ruth  Grin- 
nell,  settled  on  a  farm  at  Sun  Prairie,  Wis.,  where  he  died  in 
1877,  leaving  three  children — Henry  on  the  farm.     Emma, 


103 

who  married  Charles  Vrooman,  and  resides  at  Green  Bay, 
Wis.,  and  Edna,  who  married  H.  W.  Chenoweth  and  lives 
in  Madison,  Wis. 

Monroe  Phillips,  born  March  2nd,  1817,  married  Amanda 
Reed.  They  now  reside  at  Davenport,  Wis.  They  have 
three  children — William  and  Ward  who  are  farmers  in 
Dakota,  and  Ella,  who  is  at  a  musical  institute  in  Warren, 
Ohio. 

Galusha  Phillips,  fifth  child  of  Rhoda  and  Russell 
Phillips,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  April  27th,  1820.  He 
married  Stella  B.  Scranton,  of  Rochester,  JN.  Y.,  Oct.  3rd, 
1848.  They  reside  in  Rochester,  and  have  no  children.  Mr. 
P.  was  in  the  hat  cap  and  fur  business  there  many  years, 
but  for  twenty  years  past  has  been  in  the  furniture  trade. 
His  wife  is  a  woman  of  rare  worth  and  intelligence,  to 
whom  the  writer  is  indebted  for  most  of  the  records  of  this 
branch  of  Phillipses.  When  a  youth,  Mr.  Phillips  lived 
about  seven  years  on  a  farm  with  his  mother's  uncle  Deacon 
Dimick  Ellis  (72),  in  Ashfield.  At  14  years  of  age,  he 
started  out  in  the  world  to  make  his  way  alone,  and  it  is 
much  to  his  credit,  that,  in  the  midst  of  many  discourage- 
ments, he  has  ever  maintained  an  upright  and  honorable 
career  worthy  of  imitation. 

Mary  Phillips,  born  1823,  married  Simeon  C.  Yout,  and 
they  now  reside  in  Racine,  Wis.  They  have  three  children 
— Adelaide  married  a  Mr.  Petitt,  he  died  in  1881.  She  lives 
in  Racine  and  has  one  cliild.  Amelia  married  Wm.  Gilles- 
pie, they  live  in  Englewood,  a  suburb  of  Chicago,  she  has 
one  son.  Nellie  Yout  married  Harry  Wright  and  lives  in 
Racine.  Louis  Yout,  unmarried,  also  lives  in  Racine.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Yout  lost  two  children,  one  of  whom,  their  eldest, 
was  killed  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  at  Chickamauga, 
Sept.  20th,  1863. 

Sarah  Phillips  was  born  in  Ashfield,  May  12th,  1825. 
She  married  Charles  Hill,  who  died  in  1855,  ^^  Nashville, 
Tenn.  She  had  one  son  who  died  in  i860,  aged  12  years. 
Mrs.   Hill  had  resided  in  Madison,  Wis.,  for  many  years. 


to4 

Elizabeth  A.  Phillips  was  the  eighth  and  youngest  child 
of  Russell  and  Rhoda  Phillips.  She  was  born  in  Ashfield, 
Oct.  i2th,  1832,  and  died  in  Madison,  Wis.,  in  1873.  She 
married  Sidney  Foote  in  1857,  and  he  died  in  1877,  ^"  Jackson- 
ville, Florida,  where  he  had  gone  for  his  health.  They  left 
six  daughters — Florence  and  Catherine  Foote,  teachers  in 
public  schools,  in  Madison,  Wis.  Martha,  who  lives  in 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  with  her  uncle  Galusha  Phillips.  Ella,  a 
teacher  in  Green  Bay,  Wis.  Annie  in  Knoxville,  111.,  and 
Ruth  Foote,  adopted  by  Mr.  Smith  in  Winetka,  near 
Chicago.  Mr.  Foote  was  a  very  bright  man,  a  college 
graduate  and  a  lawyer. 

Hannah  Williams,  second  child  of  Hannah  Ellis  and 
Apollos  Williams,  Sr.,  was  born  Jan.  25th,  1793  in  Ashfield. 
She  never  married,  but  lived  with  her  parents  in  Westport, 
N.  Y.,  until  their  death,  when  she  resided  for  a  time  with 
her  brother  Alpheus,  in  Coldwater,  Mich.,  and  afterwards 
with  her  brother  Apollos,  in  Minnesota,  where  she  died  in 
1871. 

Daniel  Williams,  third  child  of  Hannah  and  Apollos,  was 
born  1795,  and  died  when  about  18  years  of  age.  He  died 
in  Westport,  from  a  wound  accidently  inflicted  by  a  drunken 
man  who  was  carelessly  handling  a  gun  at  a  general  train- 
ing, or  muster. 

Apollos,  Jr.,  born  Feb.  21st,  1797,  died  in  Pleasant 
Valley,  Minn.,  in  1866.  He  married  Betsy  Adams  and  had 
II  children,  whose  names  were:  John  P.,  born  1834;  Alzina, 
1837;  Louisa,  1838;  Ann,  Lovinda,  Lucy,  Luther,  Angeline, 
Augustus,  Cynthia  and  Marian,  all  born  in  Westport. 
Augustus  Williams  lives  at  High  Forest,  Minn.  His  mother, 
who  was  born  Feb.  nth,  1812,  is  still  living;  she  has  had  60 
grand  children,  44  of  them  now  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Apollos  Williams,  Jr.,  moved  to  Pleasant 
Valley,  Minn.,  in  1861  with  their  entire  family  of  11  children. 
Their  son,  John  P.  and  his  wife  Irene,  live  there  now. 
Their  children  are  Cora,  Roger,  Ervin,  Flora,  Linn,  Wendel 
and  Warner.     Alzina  Williams  married  Wm.  Toogood  and 


105 

their  children  are :  Franklin,  Albert,  George,  Mabel,  Maud, 
Wright,  Nellie  and  Wenn.  Louisa  Williams  married 
Thomas  Wallace  and  their  children  are:  Jenny,  Laura, 
Annie,  Ella,  Susie,  Hugh  and  John.  Lucy  Williams  married 
Dwight  Toogood,  and  their  children  are:  Effie,  Nettie,  Dory, 
Lyman  and  Merrit.  Lorinda  Williams  married  Isaac  F. 
Johnson,  and  their  children  are:  Alma,  Clinton,  Mattie, 
Rosa  and  Phillip.  Ann  Williams  married  John  B.  Dun- 
ham, and  their  children  are:  Ella,  Minnie,  Edith,  Myrtle, 
Roy  and  Bertha. 

Luther  and  Augustus  Williams  are  unmarried,  and  live 
with  their  mother  in  Pleasant  Valley. 

Angeline  Williams  married  Johnson  Bentley,  and  their 
children  are:  Lewella,  Nora,  Edward,  Irvin  and  Walter. 
They  reside  at  Pleasant  Valley.  Cynthia  Williams  married 
Juhus  Whaler,  and  their  children  are:  Blanch,  Willie,  Marcia 
and  Irene.  Marian  Williams  married  Perry  E.  Babcock, 
and  their  children  are:  Ada,  Harry  and  Nina,  and  two  others 
dead,  Etta  and  Bertha.  In  July,  1881,  these  families  and 
Williams  relatives  had  a  reunion  at  Pleasant  Valley,at  which 
88  of  them  were  present. 

John  Williams,  born  July  27th,  1799,  married  Sylvia 
McLane  June  5th,  1823.  He  was  accidently  drowned  in 
Lake  Champlain,  Nov.  23rd,  1825.  He  was  on  a  vessel 
which  was  lost  in  a  storm  with  all  on  board.  He  had  one 
son,  Daniel,  born  in  Westport,  March  9th,  1824,  who  now 
lives  in  Dexter,  Minn.,  and  is  a  thriving  farmer  and  a  man 
of  uncommon  intelligence  and  worth. 

Mr.  Daniel  Williams  married  Miss  Adelia  Babcock,  and 
they  have  10  children  and  11  grandchildren.  Their  children 
are:  Martha  Ann,  born  1850;  John  Jay,  1851;  Charles 
Henry,  1854;  Clark  Phineas,  1856;  Sylvia  Ursula,  1857; 
Melvin  Daniel,  1859;  Ira  Rufus,  1861;  Edward  Perry,  1863; 
Alpheus  Simeon,  1868;  and  Ida  May,  1872.  The  first  eight, 
born  in  Quincy,  Mich.,  and  the  last  two  in  Dexter,  Minn. 
Mrs.  Adelia  B.  Williams  was  born  in  New  York,  Nov.  6th, 
1830. 


io6 

Alpheus  Williams,  born  Aug.  28th,  1801,  married  Sylvia 
M.  Williams,  widow  of  his  brother  John,  Sept.  30th,  1827. 
He  died  near  Coldwater,  Mich.,  Oct.  loth,  1877.  His 
widow  is  now  living  in  Michigan.  Their  children's  names 
are:  George,  born  1828;  John^  Henr}',  Edward,  Monroe, 
died  1874,  and  Ann  Eliza,  1840.  Most  of  this  family  now 
live  in  and  near  Coldwater.  Mrs.  Sylvia  M.  Williams,  the 
mother,  was  born  Ma}^  21st,  1804,  and  now  lives  with  her 
son  Edward,  four  miles  from  Coldwater.  George  Williams 
has  four  children:  Louella,  Cora,  Nellie  and  Sylvia.  John 
Williams'  children  are:  George,  Lovina  and  Dan,  Henry 
Williams,  one  child,  Lena.  Monroe  Williams  at  his  death 
left  two  children,  Homer  and  Monroe.  Ann  Eliza  Williams 
married  a  Bidleman,  and  has  one  son,  Emmet  Bidleman. 

Edward  Williams,  youngest  child  of  Hannah  Ellis  and 
Apollos  Williams,  was  born  Dec.  29th,  1804,  and  died  in 
1847.  He  married  Ann  R.  Keith,  and  their  children  were: 
Harriet,  born  1829;  Albert  K.,  1834;  Gulielma,  1842; 
Alborn  and  Hannah.  The  last  two  are  dead.  This  family 
of  children  were  born  some  in  Vermont  and  some  in  Canada. 
Mrs.  Ann  R.  K.  Williams,  the  mother,  was  born  June  25th, 
181 1,  and  died  Aug.  20th,  1844.  Albert  K.  WiUiams  lives 
in  Washington,  D.  C,  Gulielma  Williams  married  a  Cooper, 
and  they  live  in  Winnebago,  Minn. 

The  descendants  of  Hannah  Ellis  (63),  and  Apollos 
Williams,  Sr.,  (64),  are  very  numerous  and  have  ever  been 
highly  respected  and  useful  people.  Apollos,  Sr.,  and  wife 
were  Baptists  and  their  good  example  and  instruction  has 
shown  a  good  influence  in  the  generation  which  has  now 
passed,  and  will  no  doubt  in  those  to  come. 

(65.;  DIMICK  ELLIS,  second  child  of  Lieut.  John 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Oct.  23rd,  1766.  He  died  Aug. 
4th,  1773,  according  to  records  of  his  father's  family.  In  the 
records  of  the  town  of  Ashfield,  his  name  is  given  as 
Edward  Dimick  Ellis,  with  date  of  death  the  same  as 
above. 


(66.)  JANE  ELLIS  LINCOLN,  third  child  of  Lieut. 
John  Ellis,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  March  7th,  1779.  She 
married  Capt.  Samuel  Lincoln,  in  Ashfield,  in  1788.  They 
had  nine  children,  some  of  whom  were  born  in  Ashfield,  and 
others  in  central  and  western  New  York.     Her  husband, 

(67.)  CAPT.  SAMUEL  LINCOLN  resided  in  Ashfield 
at  the  time  of  his  marriage  and  for  some  time  thereafter. 
He  was  a  man  of  more  than  average  energy  and  enterprise. 
About  1800  he  moved  with  his  family  to  central  New  York, 
where  both  himself  and  wife  died  about  the  same  time  in 
181 2.  Upon  this  sad  event  this  large  family  of  children, 
most  of  whom  w^e  small,  the  youngest  Benjamin,  a  baby 
of  but  a  few  months,  were  widely  scattered.  Mrs,  Lincoln's 
brother  Dimick  Ellis  (72),  visited  them  and  took  two  of  the 
younger,  Thomas  and  Anne  to  Ashfield,  where  they  lived  to 
maturity.  The  youngest  Anne  he  carried  in  his  arms  most 
of  the  way,  there  being  no  roads  then  except  for  wagons 
and  stages.  Anne  married  a  Mr.  Haines  and  removed  west. 
It  is  said  that  she  had  a  daughter,  Jane  who  lived  in  Cold- 
water,  Mich. 

Thomas  Lincoln  (203),  was  born  Nov.  i8th,  1808,  in 
Byron,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.  After  the  death  of  his  parents 
in  1812,  he  lived  with  his  uncle  Dimick  in  Ashfield  until 
1825,  when  he  went  to  New  York.  He  married  Miss  Julia 
Rhodes,  who  was  born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  12th, 
181 2,  They  were  married  Sept.  21st,  1834,  and  settled  in 
Springville,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  and  some  of  their 
children  now  reside.  Mr.  Lincoln  is  an  architect  and  builder 
and  has  erected  many  of  the  finest  buildings  in  Springville 
and  surrounding  country.  In  1836  he  moved  to  Monroe, 
Mich.,  where  he  built  the  first  raidroad  bridge  over  the 
river  Raisin.  In  1840  he  removed  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  in 
1845  he  returned  to  Springville,  where  he  now  lives,  still 
actively  engaged  in  his  profession.  Mr.  Lincoln  as  an  up- 
right, pubHc-spirited  and  honorable  citizen  in  his  town,  has 
no  superior,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  entire  com- 


io8 

munity.  Mrs.  Lincoln  is  a  very  amiable  woman,  beloved 
by  all.  She  has  been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
nearly  50  years.  Their  children  are:  Anna  L.,  born  1835; 
Marion  T.,  1838;  Carlottie  E.,  1839;  Helen  M.,  1843; 
Americus  C,  1845;  Josephine  J,  1847;  Manly  B.,  1850; 
Julia  A.,  1852. 

Anna  L.  Lincoln,  born  1835,  married  Dr.  J.  Swain  of 
Colden,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  Marion  T.  Lincoln  was  a  soldier 
in  the  late  war  and  was  a  prisoner  at  Saulsbury.  He 
married  Miss  Katie  Gould  of  Greenville,  Mich.,  where  he 
now  resides.  Helen  M.  Lincoln  married  a  Mr.  Eggert  and 
has  a  son,  George  T.  Eggert.  She  afterwards  married  Mr. 
Geo.  W.  Zink  a  prominent  business  man  of  Buffalo,  and 
they  have  a  son,  Geo.  W.,  Jr.  Americus  C.  Lincoln  was  a 
soldier  in  the  rebellion  and  was  a  prisoner  at  Andersonville. 
Josephine  Y.  Lincoln  married  Wallace  Popple  of  Collins, 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  Their  children  are:  Maud  and  Willie. 
Julia  Ada  Lincoln  married  William  Owen  of  Buffalo,  and 
their  children  are:  Emily,  Willie  and  Helen. 

Hannah  Lincoln  (200),  married  Marvin  Williams  and 
lived  in  Hinckley,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  where  she  died  about 
i860,  leaving  one  daughter  Jane,  who  married  George 
Thayer  of  Cuyahoga  Falls,  Ohio.  Their  son,  George 
Thayer  is  said  to  be  a  druggist  in  Toledo,  Ohio. 

Phebe  Lincoln  (198),  married  Ira  Butler,  said  to  be  a 
cousin  of  Hon.  Benj.  F.  Butler  of  Mass.  They  lived  near 
Medina,  Ohio,  the  later  years  of  their  life.  No  further  report 
of  them. 

Of  this  family  of  Lincolns  there  was  one  (not  in  the  list 
on  page  22,)  named  Dimick  Lincoln.  After  his  parents 
death  he  lived  for  several  years  with  Mr.  Peleg  Standish, 
of  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  when  he  went  away  a  young  man, 
as  he  said  to  visit  the  old  world.  No  account  of  him  has 
since  been  found. 

The  youngest  of  the  Lincoln  children  was  Benjamin 
(205.)      He  was  a  baby  when  his  parents  died.      He  was 


reared  by  his  sister  Betsey,  with  whom  he  lived  a  time. 
Later  in  life  he  went  to  Ohio,  at  or  near  where  his  sister 
Marilla,  Mrs.  Prichard,  lived.  About  the  year  1849,  he 
came  to  Otisco  (now  Beldin^),  Mich.,  where  his  uncle  Dimick 
Ellis  (72)  then  lived,  in  his  old  age  with  his  son  Lewis  (241.) 
Benjamin  Lincoln  at  this  time  was  a  great  sufferer  from 
rheumatism,  to  such  an  extent  that  he  was  helpless.  His 
uncle  Dimick's  children,  Richard  and  Lewis  Ellis,  and 
daughter  Mrs.  Desiah  Ellis  Belding  lived  here.  These  were 
Benjamin's  cousins,  with  whom  he  remained  for  about  three 
years  until  his  death.  His  disease  took  on  the  form  of  con- 
sumption, which  proved  fatal  about  1853.  He  is  remember- 
ed as  a  man  of  great  patience  and  amiability  of  character, 
beloved  by  all. 

Marilla  Lincoln  (201),  was  born  Feb.  3rd,  1805.  She 
married  Sheldon  C.  Prichard  Feb.  22nd,  1819.  Mr.  Prich- 
ard was  born  Aug.  ist,  1802.  They  lived  in  Moravia  New 
York,  a  few  years  after  their  marriage,  when  they  moved  to 
Wauseon,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Prichard  died.  Mrs.  Prichard 
removed  about  1875  to  Prichard ville,  Barry  Co.,  Mich., 
where  she  died  Oct.  28th,  1883,  at  the  home  of  her  son  Solo- 
mon Prichard.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Prichard  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  were  highly  respected  and  up- 
right people.  .Their  children  were  Alonzo,  born  1824.  He 
married  a  Worden,  sister  of  Dr.  S.  T,  Worden  of  Delta,  Ohio. 
Alonzo  Prichard  now  lives  at  Wauseon,  Ohio.  Charles  born 
1826,  now  lives  at  Prichardville,  Mich.  Julia  born  1829,  died 
in  Ohio  1830.  Hiram  born  1830,  now  lives  at  Wauseon, 
Ohio. 

Jane  Prichard,  born  1832,  married  Dr.  S.  T.  Worden  of 
Delta,  Ohio.  Helen  Prichard,  born  1835,  married  a  man 
named  Dando,  is  now  a  widow  and  lives  in  Prichardville, 
Mich.  Solomon,  born  1837,  lives  in  Prichardville.  George, 
born  1839,  ^^^^^  ^t  Prichardville.  Sarah,  born  1842,  married 
Isaac  Weeks,  lives  in  Prichardville.  Mary,  born  in  Liver- 
pool, Ohio,  Jan.  3rd,  1847,  lived  in  Hillsdale,  Mich.  She 
married   Dr.  Chamberlin   in    1863,  and   had   one   daughter 


no 


Myrtle  Chamberlin.  Dr.Chamberlin  died  in  1875,  ^"^  Mrs. 
Chamberlin  married  Mr.  Bernard  in  1878.  Mrs.  Bernard 
lived  in  Jackson,  Mich.,  several  years  and  later  in  Hillsdale. 
She  died  suddenly  May  13th,  1885,  greatly  lamented  by  a 
large  circle  of  relatives  and  friends.  Her  daughter  now 
lives  in  Hillsdale.  She  is  widely  known  as  a  highly  culti- 
vated and  talented  singer. 

Polly  Lincoln  (199),  married  John  Rose  and  they  were 
in  Niles,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  for  a  time  about  1834.  ^^ 
further  report  from  them. 

Betsey  Lincoln  (202),  probably  married  a  Worden. 
Where  they  lived  was  not  known  to  the  other  relatives.  As 
said  above  when  Capt.  Samuel  and  Jane  Ellis  Lincoln  died 
in  181 2  their  children  were  widely  scattered,  and  some  of 
them  became  lost  to  each  other  as  well  as  to  their  other  more 
distant  relatives.  This  was  a  matter  of  grief  and  sadness 
in  after  life  to  the  others,  who  felt  a  loneliness  thereafter. 

(68.)  JOHN  ELLIS,  Jr.,  fourth  child  of  Lieut.  John 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Sept,  19th,  1771.  He  lived  with 
his  father  until  about  the  age  of  19  when  he  enlisted  in  the 
army  and  went  with  Gen.  Anthonj'  Wayne  in  a  campaign 
against  the  Indians  in  Ohio  and  Indiana  from  1793  to  1795. 
In  a  hard  fought  battle  at  Falling-Timbers,  Ind.,  he  was 
severely  wounded.  After  his  discharge  he  went  down  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  to  New  Orleans,  and  thence  by 
vessel  to  New  York,  and  from  there  home.  Soon  after  his 
arrival  in  Ashfield  he  was  married  to  Abilena  Phillips  of 
that  town,  Dec.  30th,  1795.  They  then  settled  in  Sempron- 
ius  (now  Niles),  N.  Y.,  where  they  raised  a  large  family  of 
15  children,  all  but  two  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  and 
most  of  them  to  old  age.     Four  of  them  are  yet  living. 

Elisha,  born  1805,  now  living  in  Farmersville,  Ind.,  John  J. 
born  1810,  living  near  Auburn,  N.  Y.  Ebenezer,  born 
1815,  living  in  Arkansas  City,  Kan.,  and  Anthony  Wayne 
Elhs,  born  1820,  now  lives  in  Niles  on  the  old  homestead. 


John  Ellis,  Jr.,  was  a  Methodist  in  the  early  part  of  his 
life.  He  was  quite  a  bible  student  and  often  an  exhorter  in 
the  meetings.  In  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  inclined  to 
universalism.  He  was  an  honest,  sincere  and  christian  man. 
He  died  at  Niks,  N.  Y.,  1848.     His  wife, 

(69.)  ABILENA  PHILLIPS,  was  born  in  Ashfield  in 
1776.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Vespasian  Phillips,  of  Ash- 
field. She  was  a  true  and  devoted  wife  and  mother,  and  a 
good  christian  woman.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  in 
1848  she  lived  with  her  son  Anthony  W.  Ellis  in  Niles,  where, 
she  died  in  1854.  She  has  a  numerous  posterity  in  New 
York,  Ohio  and  several  western  states.  For  sketches  of 
her  children  see  Nos.  206  to  231. 

(70.)  EDWARD  ELLIS,  fifth  child  of  Lieut.  John  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Ashfield,  March  20th,  1773.  He  worked  on  his 
father's  farm  during  his  youth.  June  4th,  1798,  he  married 
Amanda  Flower,  of  Ashfield,  and  very  soon  after  removed 
to  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  where  he  settled  on  a  farm  which  his 
father  had  purchased  a  short  time  before.  They  moved 
from  Ashfield,  with  an  ox  team  and  were  14  days  on  the 
way.  His  wife  took  from  Ashfield  a  young  apple  tree, 
which  she  planted  in  their  front  yard,  and  which  yet  bears 
fruit.  Their  oldest  son  Cyrus  Ellis,  who  was  born  on  this 
place  in  1799,  lived  most  of  his  life  and  died  there  in  Nov., 
1885.  His  father  Edward,  was  a  ver}^  ambitious  and  indus- 
trious man  and  died  suddenly  in  1801,  it  is  said  from  over- 
work. At  his  death  and  burial  so  new  was  the  country  that 
no  boards  could  be  procured  of  which  to  make  a  coffin. 
The  neighbors  cut  down  trees,  and  split  out  slabs  of  wood 
for  this  purpose,  and  to  prevent  the  wolves  from  molesting 
the  grave  which  was  near  the  house,  two  loads  of  stone 
were  placed  over  it.  For  sketch  of  his  children  see  Nos. 
233  to  235.     His  wife, 

(71.)  AMANDA  FLOWER,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  May 
15th,  1780.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Bildad  Flower,  and 
granddaughter  of  Maj.  Lamrock  Flower,  Sr.,  who  lived  and 
died    on  the  farm  opposite  the  home  of  Lieut.  John  Ellis. 


112 

Bildad  Flower  married  Dorcas ,  and  soon  after  entered 

the  Revolutionary  army  as  a  soldier.  After  three  years 
service  he  died  and  left  a  widow,  and  two  youn^  daughters. 
Ruth,  born  about  1777,  married  Jesse  Raimey,  of  Ashfield, 
and  Amanda,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Amanda's  mother,  Dorcas  Flower,  after  the  death  of  her 
father,  Bildad  Flower,  married  Spencer  Phillips,  also  a  Rev- 
olutionary soldier,  and  they  had  a  large  family  of  children. 

Amanda  Flower  Ellis,  at  the  death  of  her  husband  had 
•one  son  Cyrus  (233),  and  another  Edward  D.,  who  was  born 
two  months  after  his  father's  death.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  a  small 
and  frail  woman,  but  had  unusual  resolution  and  endurance. 

She  took  her  two  infant  children  and  went  to  Ashfield. 
After  a  few  months  she  resolved  to  go  back  to  her  new 
home  in  what  was  then  "the  west."  (This  was  a  very  early 
manifestation  of  what  has  since  become  a  general  fact  that 
eastern  people  who  have  once  lived  in  the  west  cannot  con- 
tent themselves  to  remain  long  in  the  east  again.)  She  left 
Cyrus  with  his  uncle  Dimick  Ellis,  and  started  back  to  Sem- 
pronius  with  her  infant  child  Edward  D.  On  the  way  she 
made  the  acquaintance  of  a  young  Presbyterian  minister, 
Rev.  Lyman  Forbush,  who  was  going  into  the  same  section 
of  country.  After  a  time  they  were  married  and  settled 
permanently  in  Sempronius,  where  they  remained  the  rest  of 
their  lives.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forbush  raised  a  large  family  of 
children,  mostly  daughters.  They  were :  Mindwell,  born  1804, 
died  1854.  ^^^  married  William  Potter,  and  lived  in  Hills- 
dale, Mich.,  many  years.  Lyman  Jr.,  born  1807,  died  1844. 
He  married  Emeline  Huff.  Minerva,  born  1810,  married 
George  Davidson,  and  live  in  New  York  State.  Dorcas, 
born  181 2,  died  1842.  She  married  Otis  El  wood.  Thomas 
M.,  bom  1815.  Amanda,  born  1818,  married  Thomas  Van 
Arsdale,  and  now  lives  in  or  near  Moravia,  N.Y.  Elizabeth, 
born  1822,  died  in  1844.  She  married  Rev.  Edwin  R. 
Wade,  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church,  who  now  lives  in 
McLean,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.  Huldah,  born  1824,  married 
Benj.  Duryee,  and  she  now  lives  in  Niles,  N.  Y.      Dorliska, 


"3 
born  1826,  married  Newton  Brokaw,  and  lives  in  New  York. 
Amanda  Flower  Ellis  Forbush  (71),  lived  in  Niles,  or  Sem- 
pronius  (see  note  page  80),  over  70  years.  There  were  but 
six  families  in  the  town  when  she  and  her  first  husband, 
Edward  Ellis,  settled  there.  Her  second  husband,  Rev.  Mr. 
Forbush,  died  there  Aug.  7th,  1826,  and  she  was  a  widow 
over  41  years.  Left  as  she  was  by  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band, with  a  large  family  of  small  children,  the  youngest 
but  two  years  of  age,  few  can  realize  the  amount  of  courage 
needed  to  meet  and  overcome  the  obstacles  and  discourage- 
ments of  her  life.  She  died  Nov.  14th,  1867,  in  her  88th  year. 
She  was  a  pure  and  noble  woman,  and  retained  her  mental 
and  physical  powers  in  a  high  degree  to  the  close  of  her 
life.  She  could  count  up  children,  grandchildren  and  great 
grandchildren,  to  the  number  of  two  hundred.  Her  mem- 
ory will  long  be  cherished. 

(72.)  Dea.  DIMICK  ELLIS,  sixth  child  of  Lieut.  John 
Ellis  and  Molly  Dimick  his  wife,  was  born  in  Ashfield, 
Nov.  26th,  1776.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  his  father's 
family  and  remained  on  the  homestead  until  his  parents  death 
in  1827,  and  for  nearly  20  years  afterwards,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Otisco,  (now  Belding),  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  where  his 
three  eldest  children  had  settled  some  years  before. 

The  homestead  in  Ashfield  was  a  very  hilly  and  rocky 
locality  similar  to  nearly  all  the  farms  in  that  section.  It 
would  puzzle  one  who  was  accustomed  to  the  broad  and  fer- 
tile fields  of  the  Great  West  to  understand  how  a  moderate 
subsistence  even  could  be  obtained  from  most  of  the  New 
England  farms.  That  it  was  is  evidence  of  great  economy 
as  well  as  thrift.  All  were  required  to  labor,  usually  early 
and  late.  The  principal  "  wealth "  that  was  thus  acquired 
consisted  mainly  in  the  vigorous  physical  and  mental  con- 
stitutions which  nearly  all  acquired  in  a  high  degree. 

When  Dea.  Ellis'  father  died  in  1827,  at  85  years  of  age, 
his  surplus  accumulations  in  property^  could  not  have  been 
much,  yet  he  made  provision  in  his  will  for  small  legacies 
to  each  of  his  children,  which  his  son  Dimick  paid  in  full 


XI4 

according  to  old  receipts  found  among  his  effects.  The  last 
of  these  was  to  his  nephew,  Benjamin  Lincoln,  (youngest 
child  of  his  sister  Jane,  who  married  Capt.  Samuel  Lincoln 
of  Byron,  N.  Y.,)  which  was  dated  Otisco,  Nov.  22,  1852, 
about  a  year  before  Benjamin's  death.  These  Lincoln  chil- 
dren had  become  widely  separated  after  the  death  of  their 
parents  in  181 2,  (see  page  107)  which  accounts  for  the  above 
mentioned  dela3^ 

December  nth,  1799,  Dea.  Ellis  married  Polly  Annable. 
He  had  four  children  ;  Desiah,  Richard,  Lewis  and  John. 
(For  sketch  of  whom  see  Nos.  237  to  243.) 

Deacon  Ellis  was  a  Baptist  in  religious  belief  and  always 
took  an  active  part  in  religious  matters.  He  was  also  a 
strictly  temperate  man  and  when  the  "Washingtonian  move- 
ment," a  temperance  organization  originated  about  1825,  he 
was  one  of  the  first  in  his  town  to  advocate  the  cause. 
Previous  to  that  time  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  was  universal 
among  all  classes,  in  the  churches  and  out.  It  required  a 
great  deal  of  courage  to  attempt  interference  with  this 
ancient  and  popular  custom  of  liquor  drinking  at  that  time, 
but  Deacon  Ellis  always  adhered  to  his  temperance  princi- 
ples and  was  the  means  of  converting  many  to  his  views, 
both  by  his  upright  and  Christian  example  as  well  as  the 
friendliness  of  all  his  ways.  He  was  a  prominent  and 
highly  respected  man  all  his  life,  and  represented  his  town 
in  the  State  Assembly  and  Town  Board  for  many  years. 
From  his  father,  and  grandfather  Richard,  he  learned  much 
of  the  early  history  of  those  trying  times,  during  and  before 
the  great  Revolution.  From  him  the  writer  (his  grandson), 
derived  most  of  the  facts  and  incidents  contained  in  the 
sketch  of  Richard  Ellis,  the  first  settler  of  Ashfield.  (See 
page  9.)  Dimick  was  about  twenty-one  years  of  age  when 
his  grandfather  died,  and  he  had  lived  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood and  most  of  the  time  in  the  same  family  with  him. 
He  always  felt  a  great  interest  in  all  his  relatives,  whether 
near  or  remote,  and  it  was  mainly  in  accordance  with  an 


"5 
expression  of  his,  made  nearly  35  years  ago,  that  he  would 
sometime  trace  them  out  and  put  the  record  in  shape  for 
future  reference,  that  prompted  the  writer,  at  this  late  date? 
to  begin  the  work.  Although  the  task  has  proved  to  be 
many  times  greater  than  was  supposed  possible  at  the  outset 
and  quite  perplexing  from  the  slight  data  he  had  to  begin 
with,  yet  the  writer  hopes  in  the  end  to  make  the  work 
quite  full  and  of  interest  to  the  many  families  included. 

A  year  or  two  before  his  death  Deacon  Ellis  wrote  out 
some  account  of  the  early  relatives,  and  their  families, 
which  he  put  in  the  keeping  of  his  nephew,  Mr.  Cyrus 
Ellis  (233,)  of  Niles,  N.  Y.  All  these  interesting  and 
valuable  records  were  lost  some  years  later  in  a  fire  which 
destroyed  Cyrus'  house  and  contents.  The  generation  to 
which  Deacon  Ellis  belonged  has  gone  by.  All  their 
voices  are  hushed  in  a  silence  we  cannot  penetrate.  They 
were  a  noble  race  of  men  and  women,  whose  lifework 
was  fully  and  well  done.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  record  their 
names,  and  a  virtue  in  the  present  and  coming  genera- 
tions, to  respect  and  honor  their  memories  and  to  imitate 
their  example.  "The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed."  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  the  purest  and  noblest  of 
his  time.  He  retained  his  physical  and  mental  powers  with 
increasing  brightness  until  his  last  days,  which  he  himself 
attributed  mainly  to  his  uniform  sobriety,  equanimity  of 
temper  and  abstinence  from  those  deadly  poisons,  alcohol 
and  tobacco,  and  he  used  tea  and  coffee  even  but  seldom. 
His  life  and  energies  were  devoted  to  doing  good  to  his  fel- 
low men  by  whom  he  was  universally  respected  and 
beloved.  His  old  age  was  happy,  serene  and  beautiful,  a 
joy  to  himself  as  well  as  to  those  around  him.* 


*  It  is  worthy  to  note  the  influence  which  an  upright,  Christian  and  sober  life  has  on 
men  and  women.  All  through  these  pages  are  recorded  the  names  of  many  who  have 
reached  ages  approaching  one  hundred  years  and  still  retaining  a  high  degree  of  physical 
and  mental  vigor.  This  is  especially  true  of  the  women,  to  whom  fortunately  custom  forbids 
the  habitual  use  of  stimulants  and  narcotics.  What  a  contrast  is  this  with  the  malevolence 
and  insanity  caused  by  the  use  of  alcohol  and  the  filthiness  of  person,  and  ugliness  of  temper, 
often  produced  by  tobacco.  It  is  hoped  that  the  present  and  future  generations  will  appreci- 
ate the  pure  example  of  those  noble  ancestors,  so  far  at  least  as  to  scrupulously  avoid  all 
unnatural  stimulants  and  narcotics  which  are  now  producing  such  destructive  effects  upon 
our  race.  When  tliis  much  is  done  it  requires  no  great  effort  to  live  a  useful  and  respectable 
life  in  the  world. 


ii6 

He  died  at  82  years  of  age  from  an  attack  of  inflamma- 
tion of  the  lungs,  brought  on  from  exposure  to  cold,  but  his 
natural  vigor  of  constitution  might  otherwise  have  served 
him  for  a  dozen  years.  He  was  a  large  man  and  six  feet 
high. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  in  1826,  Deacon  Ellis 
married  Mrs.  Catherine  Long  Wilson,  of  Shelburn,  Mass. 
She  was  a  widow  with  six  children:  Samuel,  Stephen, 
David,  Dr.  Milo,  Mary  who  married  Hiram  Belding,  Esq., 
and  Louisa,  who  married  Dimick's  son,  Lewis  Ellis  (241). 

Mrs.  Catherine  Ellis  died  in  Belding,  Mich.,  about  1854, 
at  an  advanced  age.  Her  son,  Dr.  Milo  Wilson,  died  about 
1875  ^^  Shelburn  Falls,  Mass.,  where  he  had  been  a  physi- 
cian many  years. 

Her  daugher  Mary,  who  married  Hiram  Belding,  Esq., 
lived  in  Belding,  Mich.,  from  whom  that  place  was  named. 
It  is  a  thriving  village  in  the  township  of  Otisco,  and  but  a 
few  rods  from  where  the  EUises  settled  in  1842  and  '44,  and 
where  Lewis  (241)  and  C.  D.  Ellis  (749),  son  of  Richard 
(239),  and  their  families  now  reside. 

The  engraving  in  the  front  of  the  book  is  a  very  good 
likeness  of  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis  when  he  was  78  years  of 
age. 

(73.)  POLLY  ANNABLE,  first  wife  of  Deacon  Dimick 
Ellis  and  mother  of  his  children,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  1774. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Annable,  Jr. ,  and  Desiah 
Dimick,  and  a  sister  of  Lieut.  Edward  Annable  (39),  all  of 
Ashfield.  She  was  a  small  woman  and  never  of  robust 
health,  but  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  and  a  sincere  Chris- 
tian. She  died  in  1826,  quite  early  in  life,  considering  the 
average  longevity  of  most  of  those  New  England  residents. 
She  was  greatly  beloved  by  all  her  relatives  and  acquaint- 
ances. She  left  four  children,  the  two  younger  of  whom 
are  Mr.  Lewis  Ellis  (241),  of  Belding,  Mich.,  who  was  born 
in  Ashfield  in  181 1,  and  Dr.  John  Ellis  (243),  of  New  York 
City,  born  181 5. 


117 

(75.)  SYLTIA  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Lieut.  John 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Ash  field,  June  26th,  1779.  She  married 
Asher  Belding  in  Ashfield,  Oct.,  1802,  where  all  their  chil- 
dren were  born.  Their  home  was  about  one-half  mile  south 
of  the  corner  where  Richard  Ellis  first  located.  She  died 
in  Ashfield  in  the  year  1829.  Her  children  were:  Aretus, 
Jane,  Edward,  Ebenezer,  Volney,  Thomas  and  Chandler. 
For  sketches  of  these  see  Nos.  246  to  253.       Her   husband, 

(76.)  ASHER  BELDING,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Jan. 
20th,  1777.  His  father  was  Ebenezer  Belding,  Jr.,  and  his 
grandfather  Deacon  Ebenezer,  Sr.,*  both  of  whom  lived  in 
Ashfield  long  before  the  Revolutionary  War.  It  is  prob- 
able that  these  Beldings  came  from  Whately,  which  is 
about  15  miles  southeasterly  from  Ashfield.  Asher  Beld- 
ing's  parents  were  Ebenezer  Belding,  Jr.,  and  his  wife 
Jenezer  Ingram.  Asher's  brothers  were,  Ebenezer,  born 
Aug.  23rd,  1769.  Abigail,  born  Sept.  2nd,  1771,  and  Na- 
thaniel, born  June  22nd,  1774.  Mr.  Asher  Belding  was  a 
man  of  considerable  business  capacity,  which  he  exercised 
in  various  pursuits  and  speculations,  much  like  what  the 
more  modern  Yankee  has  become  famous  for.  For  many 
years  he  was  engaged  in  raising,  buying,  distilling  and 
dealing  in  peppermint  oil  and  essences,  in  which  he  did  a 
prosperous  business  for  those  times — fifty  to  eighty  years 
ago.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  in  1829,  he  married  a 
Mrs.  Sarah  Allen  in  1831;  she  was  a  widow  with  several 
daughters,  who  married  husbands  named  Sadler,  Cutler, 
and  Combes.  The  two  latter  lived  for  a  few  years  in 
Otisco,  Mich.,  early  in  the  forties.  Some  years  later 
Mr.    Asher    Belding    removed    to    Phelps,    Ontario   Co., 


♦Another  branch  of  Beldings  was  Mr.  Samuel  Belding.  He  was  from  Deerfield.  He 
purchased  the  farm  where  Richard  Ellis  made  the  first  settlement  in  the  town.  Here  he  and 
his  wife  Mary  raised  a  large  family  of  children,  whose  names  were:  Daniel,  bom  1754;  John, 
1756;  Mary,  1758;  Mercy,  1759;  Esther,  1761;  Samuel,  1762,  died  young;  Asenath,  1764; 
Louisa  1765;  Samuel,  1767;  Elizabeth,  1770,  and  Aaron,  1774.  John  Belding.  born  Dec.  17th, 
1756,  lived  on  the  homestead  until  his  death  in  1830.  He  married  Priscilla  Waite,  (probably  a 
daughter  of  Seth  Waite,  a  prominent  resident  of  that  town),  July  isth,  1784.  Their  children 
were  David,  Tiberius  (239),  Hiram  and  others.  Hiram  Belding,  born  about  1805,  married 
Mary  Wilson.  They  lived  on  the  homestead  of  his  father  and  grandfather  until  about  i8S3, 
when  they  settled  in  Belding,  Mich.  Their  children  were  David  W.,  Milo  M.,  Hiram  H., 
Alvah  N.,  Frank  H.  and  Jennie.  The  latter  died  in  Belding,  Mich.,  about  1873.  The  five 
sons  compose  the  extensive  silk  manufacturing  firm  of  Belding  Bros.  &  Co.  Their  mills 
are  at  Rockville,  Conn.,  Northampton,  Mass.,  Belding,  Mich.,  San  Francisco,  Gal.,  and 
Montreal,  Canada.    They  are  men  of  great  enterprise  and  ability. 


*  ii8 

N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in  1852.  It  may  be  said  that 
in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  trafficking  in 
various  oils  and  essences  was  a  very  common  pursuit  in  that 
part  of  the  country.  About  1815  Ashfield  had  attained  its 
largest  population,  so  that  there  was  quite  a  surplus  of  in- 
habitants, and  hence  a  pressing  necessity  for  all  who  could, 
to  seek  other  and  newer  locations.  And  it  is  not  far  from 
truth  to  say  that  about  the  first  and  second  generations  in 
the  present  century  of  New  England  youths,  when  they 
attained  to  years  approaching  manhood,  invariably  supplied 
themselves  with  a  pair  of  willow  baskets  or  tin  trunks,  and 
with  these  well  filled  with  oils,  essences,  pins,  needles, 
thread,  etc.,  suspended  from  their  shoulders  with  a  yoke, 
started  out  from  the  parental  fireside  to  "see  the  world,"  and 
prospect  for  a  situation  in  life.  Many  thousands  of  these 
young  men,  full  of  life  and  energy,  and  Yankee  sagacity, 
thus  equipped,  perambulated  New  York  and  the  western 
States.  They  were  the  pioneers  in  all  the  newer  sections  of 
the  West,  where  most  of  them  made  for  themselves  a  habi- 
tation and  a  name  before  they  returned  to  the  old  homes  in 
the  east,  unless,  as  was  the  case  with  many,  to  make  a  hasty 
visit  to  secure  a  wife  from  among  the  blooming  damsels  left 
behind,  who  proved  themselves  no  less  courageous  and  desi- 
rous to  face  the  trials  of  pioneer  life,  than  had  their  broth- 
ers and  newly  made  husbands  before  them.*  Indeed  it  is 
conceded  that  to  the  energy,  enterprise  and  heroism  of  New 
England  youth  is  attributed  the  rapid  settlement,  develop- 
ment and  populating  of  several  western  States,  and  wher- 
ever this  influence  was  felt,  there  was  left  for  all  time  the 
impress  for  good,  of  New  England's  best  genius,  independ- 
ence and  love  of  justice  and  liberty.  And  it  is  only  fair  to 
say  that  this  was  but  the  natural  outgrowth  of  principles 
which  caused  that  band  of  exiles,  the  Pilgrims,  to  brave  the 
ocean's  storms  in  mid-winter  and  establish  their  homes  on 


♦  However  widely  separated  they  became  there  ever  remained  an  attachment  for  the  old 
home  which  time  could  not  efface.  Love  for  the  scenes  of  their  youth  grew  with  the  years 
and  were  ever  freih  in  their  memories.     Truly  could  they  say  : 

We  see  it  all — the  pictures  that  our  memories  held  so  dear, 

The  homestead  in  New  England  far  away, 
And  the  vision  is  so  natural-like  we  almost  seem  to  hear 
The  voices  that  were  hushed  but  yesterday. 


119 

New  England's  sterile  shore,  two  hundred  and  sixty-five 
years  ago.  Their  deeds  should  be  praised  and  their  memory 
honored  by  every  descendant  of  New  England,  for  all  time 
to   come. 

Since  the  New  England  States  have  become  so  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  manufacturing,  within  the  last  fifty 
years,  this  emigration  to  the  West  has  been  greatly  reduced, 
and  hundreds  of  enterprising  and  populous  villages  and 
cities  have  sprung  up  giving  profitable  employment  to  all 
the  people  therein.  But  Ashfield,  not  having  any  water- 
powers  of  importance  on  her  streams,  has  never  become  a 
manufacturing  town. 


Cblldren  of  Hannali  dlis  Fulton  (17),  and  James  Fulton  (18), 
of  Colerain,  Mass.,  and  their  'wives  and  husbands. 
Grand  Children  of  Richard  Ellis. 
Prom  Vloa.  77  to  95. 

(77.)  ROBERT  FULTON,  eldest  son  of  Hannah  Ellis 
and  James  Fulton,  was  born  in  Colerain,  Franklin  Co., 
Mass.,  May  23rd,  1773.  He  settled  in  Thetford,  Orange 
Co.,  Vermont,  where  he  lived  to  old  age.  He  had  five 
sons  and  three  daughters,  named  Henry,  Stephen,  Jesse, 
Elijah,  Chapel,  Minerva,  and  two  others  names  not  given, 
but  one  married  a  Burrows. 

Henry  and  Stephen  Fulton  lived  in  Thetford,  Elijah  in 
Portland,  Me.,  Jesse  in  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Chapel  died  in 
Thetford  when  about  21  3'^ears  of  age,  soon  after  graduating 
at  Dartmouth  College. 

(79.)  JAMES  FULTON,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Colerain, 
May  7th,  1775.  In  1799  he  married  Miss  Sally  Choat,  by 
whom  he  had  nine  children.  Mr.  Fulton  settled  in  1806  in 
Champion,  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  farmer. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  181 2,  and  was  in  the  battle 
of  Sackett's  Harbor,  May  29th,  1813.  He  died  at  Cham- 
pion in  1838.  His  children  were:  Samuel,  born  1801,  died 
1881;  George,  born   1803,  died  in    1879;  Lucy,  born   1805, 


died  in  1861;  Richard,  born  1807,  died  in  1871;  Hannah, 
born  1809,  died  in  1874;  Jesse,  born  181 2;  Nathan,  born 
1815,  died  1874;  Maria,  born  1817,  and  EUenor,  born  1820. 
Mr.  Jesse  Fulton,  born  1812,  now  lives  in  Watertown,  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  N.  Y.     He  is  a  farmer  and  has  one  daughter. 

(80.)  CALEB  FULTON  was  born  in  Colerain,  May 
nth,  1777.  He  married  Polly  Barnes  and  settled  in  the 
town  of  Wilna,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  early  times,  where 
they  both  died  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Sackett's  Harbor. 
Their  children  were:  Simeon,  Fanny,  Mary,  James,  Sally 
married  Becker;  Lydia,  Lury  and  Elisha,  all  farmers. 

Simeon  Fulton  has  no  children. 

Fanny  Fulton  married  a  Lanphear.  She  died  about 
1879.  Her  children  are:  Madeline,  married  a  Thompson; 
Hiram,  Nelson  and  Simeon  Lanphear. 

Mary  Fulton  married  Samuel  Keys,  a  farmer  of  Wilna, 
She  died  in  1883,  leaving  her  husband  and  four  children. 
George,  Alfreda  married  a  Palmer,  Samuel  Jr.,  and  Caleb 
Keys. 

James  Fulton  was  married  in  1843  to  Caroline  Nichols. 
He  died  in  June  1868.  They  had  five  children,  namely :  John 
Caleb,  bom  1844,  a  lawyer  in  Carthage,  Jeff .  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Francis,  born  1846;  Simeon  B.  (died  in  1864).  Mary  N. 
married  a  Wilkinson.  Larissa  (died  in  1871);  Sally  Fulton 
married  Lewis  A.  Stacy,  and  had  three  children.  Maryetta, 
Fanny  and  William  L.  Stacy.  Her  present  husband  is 
Jeremiah  Becker.  Elisha  Fulton  lives  on  the  old  farm  of 
his  father  Caleb  in  Wilna.  His  children  are  Maria,  Joseph 
and  Sedate,  twins,  born  in  1858,  Jane  and  Clark. 

Lury  or  Filury  Fulton  married  a  Gustin,  and  had 
Lorenzo,  Byron  died  in  the  army  in  the  earl}-  part  of  the 
late  war,  and  Edwin  Gustin.  After  Mr.  Gustin's  death  she 
married  Charles  Hosford  and  had  two  children,  one  of 
whom,  Mary  Esther,  married  a  Mr.  Crowner. 


121 


John  Caleb  Fulton  (son  of  James),  born  Aug.,  1844,  ^^  ^ 
lawyer  in  Carthage,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  Nov.,  1869, 
he  married  Mary  L.  Woodward  of  Philadelphia,  Jefferson 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  five  children  :  Carrie  E.,  born 
Dec,  1870;  Edwin  W.,  born  1872,  Mabel  A.,  Nov.,  1874, 
Beth  L.,  and  Herbert  F.,  Dec,  1883. 

(81.)  DATID  FULTON  was  born  in  Colerain,  Dec.  25th, 
1779.  He  married  Jennie  Taggart  and  they  settled  in 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  at  an  early  date,  where  they  raised 
eleven  children.  Their  names  were  Betsey,  Hannah,  Susan, 
Jane,  Phebe,  John,  David,  Jr.,  Sarah.,  Laura,  Luke  and 
Marv. 

David  Jr.,  married  Sarah  Ellis  (314)  eldest  daughter  of 
Thomas  Ellis  (108)  of  EUisburg,  N.  Y.  They  were  mar- 
ried about  1841,  lived  in  Belleville,  Jefterson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
have  four  sons,  James,  Thomas,  David  and  Charles  N.,  all 
farmers. 

(83.)  LUCRETIA  FULTON  was  born  in  Colerain, 
Mass.,  March  28,  1782.  She  married  Abel  Carpenter  and 
settled  in  the  town  of  Rutland,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
they  both  died.  She  had  ten  children.  One  of  her  sons, 
Elmer  Carpenter,  resides  at  East  Houndsfield,  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y. 

(85.)  DANIEL  FULTON  was  born  in  Colerain,  Mass., 
March  21st,  1784.  He  married  Polly  Wood  and  settled  in 
Carthage,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1810,  where  he  started  in 
the  business  of  cloth-dressing  and  wool-carding.  In  1813 
he  removed  to  Watertown  in  the  same  county,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  same  business.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Sackett's  Harbor.  In  181 5  he 
removed  to  Champion,  N,  Y.,  (Jefferson  Co.,)  where  he 
went  to  farming  and  where  he  remained  until  1836,  at  which 
time  he  removed  to  a  farm  in  Ohio.  He  died  in  1875.  ^^^ 
wife  died  in  the  year  1864.  They  had  nine  children  whose 
names  were  Hiram,  Anna,  Elijah,  Betsey,  Robert,  Ruel, 
Gaylord,  Roxie,  and  another  who  died  in  infancy. 


122 

Hiram  Fulton,  born  in  Colerain,  married  Polly  Jones. 
He  was  a  farmer  in  Champion,  where  he  died  in  1876.  His 
wife  Polly  died  in  1879,  They  had  four  children,  Clark, 
Elijah,  Fred,  and  one  who  died  young. 

Anna  Fulton  (daughter  of  Daniel,)  married  Nat.  Rounds 
in  Champion,  and  moved  to  Ohio,  where  they  raised  a  large 
family.      She  died  about  1866. 

Elijah  Fulton  (son  of  Daniel,)  was  born  in  Champion, 
N.  Y.,  in  181 1.  When  eleven  years  of  age  he  began  learn- 
ing the  clothiers  trade  with  his  uncle  Nathan  at  Burrs 
Mills,  N.  Y.,  with  whom  he  worked  until  he  was  18  years 
old,  when  he  went  to  Antwerp,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade.  In  1840  he  married  Betsy  Heald, 
They  had  one  daughter,  Anna  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  her 
24th  year.     Mrs.  Betsy  Fulton  died  about  1855. 

In  1865  Mr.  Elijah  Fulton  married  for  his  second  wife 
Miss  Lavina  A.  Ellis  of  Antwerp,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  P. 
Ellis,  a  prominent  resident  of  Antwerp,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Miss  Ellis'  grandfather  was  Luke  Ellis,  who  lived  at  Ware- 
ham,  Plymouth  Co.,  Mass.  Mr.  Luke  Ellis  had  two 
brothers,  John  and  Seth,  and  one  sister,  Thankful.  B}^  his 
first  wife,  he  had  one  son,  James,  who  was  lost  at  sea.  His 
second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Collins,  and  they  had  ten  chil- 
dren :  Naomi,  who  lived  and  died  unmarried  in  New  Bed- 
ford, Mass.  Mary,  who  married  John  Bennett,  lived  in 
Wareham,  where  her  husband  died.  She  had  four  children. 
She  went  to  Iowa  with  her  son,  James  Bennett,  where  she 
died.  Eliza,  the  next  child  of  Luke  Ellis,  married  a  Wash- 
bum,  had  three  children,  and  lived  in  Mass.  Lavina  Ellis 
married  Jedediah  Hammond,  moved  to  Philadelphia,  Jeffer- 
son Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had  no  children.  Sarah,  the  next, 
married  a  Mr.  Maxon,  had  four  children,  and  lived  in  Fall 
River,  Mass.  Eunice  Ellis  married  Mr.  Stetson  and  had 
one  child  who  was  lost  at  sea.  Deborah  Ellis  married 
Harvey  Farrington,  had  two  children  Harvey  Jr.  and 
George,  both  in  business  in  New  York  City. 


123 

Joseph  P.  Ellis,  son  of  Luke  and  father  of  Mrs.  Elijah 
Fulton,  settled  in  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.,  and  married 
Almira  Steel  and  had  eight  children,  five  daughters  and 
three  sons.  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  thrifty  merchant  and  produce 
dealer  extensively  known  in  northwestern  New  York.  He 
and  his  wife  died  in  Antwerp  some  years  ago.  Their  son 
J.  D.  Ellis,  a  very  prominent  man  and  at  one  time  a  member 
of  the  State  Legislature,  lives  at  Antwerp.  Benj.  R.  Ellis 
a  son  of  Luke  had  a  family  of  lo  children.  He  and  his 
wife  died  in  Croghan,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.  Charles  F.  Ellis, 
youngest  son  of  Luke,  was  a  physician.  He  died  in 
Philadelphia,  N.  Y.  early  in  life,  unmarried.  These  Ellises, 
of  whom  Mrs.  Elijah  Fulton  was  one,  were  not  among  the 
descendants  of  Richard  Ellis  of  Ashfield. 

Betsy  Fulton,  next  child  of  Daniel  (85),  was  born  in 
Watertown,  N.  Y.,  married  a  Rawson  and  moved  to  Lorain 
County,  Ohio,  where  she  raised  a  large  family  and  where 
she  now  resides. 

Robert  Fulton  was  born  in  Champion,  N.  Y.,  went  to 
Ohio,  when  young,  married  Lois  Vaughn  and  had  one 
child,  a  daughter,  who  died  at  about  18  years  of  age. 
They  live  in  Pittsfield,  Lorain  County,  Ohio.  Ruel  Fulton 
married  Mary  Humphrey  and  had  two  children,  a  son  and 
a  daughter.  The  latter,  a  very  promising  child,  died  at 
12  years  of  age.  The  son,  Delancy  Fulton,  is  a  Baptist 
minister.  His  mother  lives  with  him  and  his  father,  Ruel, 
died  soon  after  returning  from  the  war  of  the  rebellion  in 
which  he  was  a  union  soldier. 

Gaylord  Fulton,  the  youngest  son  of  Daniel,  had  four 
children,  Alice,  Harry,  Ella  and  Frank.  He  had  the 
homestead  of  his  father  and  was  a  successful  farmer.  He 
died  about  1885.  His  wife  and  children  live  at  the  old 
home  in  Ohio. 

Roxie  Fulton,  youngest  child  of  Daniel,  married 
Richard  Peck.  They  live  in  Ohio  and  have  two  children, 
a  son  Horace,  a  farmer  in  Ohio  and  Marian,  the  daughter, 
who  lives  in  New  York  Cit3% 


124 

(87.)  ELIJAH  FULTON  was  born  in  Colerain,  Feb.  2d, 
1788.  He  married  Phebe  Bennett  about  1810.  He  started 
a  woolen  mill  at  Carthage,  N.  Y.  He  also  engaged  in  the 
same  business  in  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.  He  died  at  Great  Bend, 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  about  1829.  His  daughter  Sylvia, 
lives  in  Iowa.     He  had  five  children. 

(89.)  NATHAN  FULTON  was  born  in  Colerain,  Apr. 
25th,  1790.  He  married  Philena  Hastings  and  settled  at 
Burr's  Mills,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  run  a  clothing 
mill.  He  removed  to  Iowa,  where  he  died  about  1844.  He 
had  seven  children.  He  has  a  son  Harry  who  lives  at 
Keokuk,  Iowa.  About  the  year  1835  Nathan  Fulton  visited 
his  mother  and  the  old  home  of  his  birth  in  Colerain.  The 
farm  was  owned  by  Mr.  Aaron  Franklin,  but  the  house  was 
vacant  and  dilapidated.  His  mother,  then  very  aged,  could 
not  recollect  him,  although  she  could  recite  the  names  of  all 
her  children. 

(91.)  JESSE  FULTON  was  born  July  25th, '1792,  in 
Colerain,  where  he  always  lived  and  where  he  died  March 
1 2th,  1834.  He  married  Sophrona  Franklin  and  had  five 
children,  Robert,  born  Oct.  4th,  1827,  Aaron,  born  1829. 

Robert,  born  1827,  married  Hannah  E.  Worden,  a 
daughter  of  Asa  and  Philena  Worden,  (see  (59)  page  100) 
and  great  granddaughter  of  Jane  Ellis  Phillips  (11.) 
Mr.  Robert  Fulton  lives  at  Green  River,  Vt.,  and  is  a  farm- 
er. He  has  rendered  invaluable  aid  in  gathering  records 
of  his  near  and  remote  relatives  for  this  work.  It  was 
mainly  through  him  that  a  clue  was  found  to  the  descend- 
ants of  his  grandmother's  brother,  Matthew  Ellis,  who  set- 
tled in  Vermont  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  and 
whose  sons,  Seth  and  Noah  Ellis,  lived  in  Thetford,  Vt. 
Mr.  Fulton's  wife  Hannah  was  born  Feb.  loth,  1836,  and 
died  Sept.  17th,  1881,  leaving  her  husband  and  three  child- 
ren— Alice  E.,  born  1857,  Lizzie  J.,  1859,  Hattie  E.,  1862, 
and  Robert  H.,  1875,  died  in  infancy.  Lizzie  J.  Fulton  was 
married  March  20th,  1884,  to  Mr.  H.  C.  L.  Kellerman  of 
Canton,  Mo. 


125 

Mr.  Robert  Fulton  married  for  his  second  wife,  Miss 
Ellen  Horn  of  Ohio. 

(95.)  SARAH  FULTON,  youngest  child  of  Hannah 
Ellis  and  James  Fulton,  was  born  in  Colerain  April  28th, 
1797.  She  married  Jabez  Franklin  and  lived  many  years 
in  Guilford,  Vt.  Mr.  Franklin  is  yet  living  ( 1886 ),  aged 
over  90  years.  Mrs.  Franklin  was  a  woman  of  uncommon 
talent  and  worth.  After  the  death  of  her  father,  in  1834, 
her  mother,  Hannah  Ellis  Fulton  (17),  lived  with  her  for 
about  five  years.  The  daughter  related  that  often  in  the 
latter  part  of  her  mother's  life  (she  died  at  90  years  of  age) 
she  would  be  startled  at  some  unusual  noise  and  ex- 
claim "  that  the  Indians  were  coming."  She  had  a  vivid 
recollection  of  the  scenes  in  her  youth,  in  Ashfield,  when 
there  were  incursions  of  the  savages.  She  was  then  about 
five  or  six  years  of  age.  (See  pages  11  and  12).  And 
when  her  other  faculties  had  failed  she  recalled  these  with 
much  alarm.  She  many  times  spoke  of  how  the  cattle 
bellowed  when  the  dead  were  brought  into  the  fort  at  Deer- 
field  after  the  massacre  at  what  was  called  Bloody  Brook, 
when  a  detachment  went  out  to  gather  fruit,  and  the  Indians, 
lying  in  ambush,  cut  them  off  from  their  stacked  arms  and 
murdered  all  but  one  who  jumped  into  the  river  and  escaped. 
It  is  said  that  she  was  a  woman  of  a  "  very  mild  and  ami- 
able disposition,  while  her  husband  (18)  was  of  the  sterner 
make  of  many  of  the  early  settlers." 

Mrs.  Sarah  Fulton  Franklin  resided  many  years  in  Guil- 
ford, where  she  died  in  1872.  Her  husband  Jabez,  aged  92, 
and  son  James  H.  Franklin,  now  live  at  Guilford  Center, 
Vt.     Their  daughter  Hannah  died  in  early  life. 

Mr.  Jabez  Franklin  although  at  the  great  age  of  92 
years  possesses  all  his  faculties  in  a  high  degree.  He  is  a 
man  of  uncommon  natural  abilities,  and  although  passing  a 
quiet  life  in  a  country  town,  he  has  been  noted  from  his 
youth  up  for  strict  sobriety,  honesty  and  all  the  elements  of 
a  noble  character. 


126 

Mr.  James  H.  Franklin  married  Emma  M.  Franklin, 
and  their  two  sons,  Harry  J.  and  Neil  S.  are  the  only 
grandchildren  of  Jabez  and  Sarah  Fulton  Franklin. 

It  will  be  seen  that  a  large  number  of  these  Fultons, 
children  of  Richard  Ellis'  daughter  Hannah  (17),  who 
married  James  Fulton  of  Colerain,  Mass.,  settled  in  Jeffer- 
son County,  N.  Y.  It  is  probable  that  their  mother's 
brother,  Caleb  Ellis  (19),  having  settled  here  about  1795,  is 
what  led  these  Fulton  relatives  to  seek  the  same  locality. 

Later  inquiries  show  that  several  of  Matthew  Ellis'  (13) 
sons  lived  in  the  same  county  in  New  York  for  a  time  in  the 
early  part  of  the  present  century.  Matthew,  Caleb  and 
Hannah,  (children  of  Richard  Ellis)  lived  mostly  in  Colerain, 
and  knew  but  little  of  Ashfield,  where  their  brothers, 
Reuben  and  John,  always  lived  and  where  their  father  had 
made  the  first  settlement  in  that  town,  and  where  he  died 
in  1797,  after  his  return  from  Colerain,  where  he  had  lived 
fifteen  to  twenty  years. 


Cbildren  of  Caleb  Bills  (19)  of  Klllsburgt  Jefferson  County, 

K.  v.,  and  tbelr  ^-ives  and   busbands.      Grand 

Cbildren  of  Richard  Ellis  of  Asbfield. 

From  97  to  118. 

(97.)  DANIEL  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Caleb  and  Mary 
Crouch  Ellis  of  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  was  born  Aug.  23d,  1780. 
He  was  probably  born  in  Vermont  or  possibly  in  Colerain, 
Mass.,  (which  is  near  the  Vermont  line)  where  his  father 
lived  when  a  3'^oung  man.  Daniel  was  about  15  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  settled  in  EUisburg,  and  here  he 
remained  until  his  death  in  1862. 

Daniel  Ellis  was  in  the  war  of  181 2  and  was  a  captain  in 
the  service.  In  1802  he  married  in  Adams,  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Mrs.  Christina  G.  Salisbury.  About  1829  he  mar- 
ried his  second  wife,  Miss  Orpha  Pratt,  who  was  born  in 
Marlboro,  Vt.  She  was  a  Presbyterian,  but  soon  after  her 
marriage  joined  the  Methodist   church  of   which  her  hus- 


127 

band  was  a  member.  She  was  a  woman  of  great,  good 
judgment,  force  of  character,  and  rare  intelligence  and 
worth.  She  always  took  pride  in  her  New  England 
extraction,  and  manifested  the  greatest  independence  even 
in  the  last  years  of  her  life,  and  after  she  became  blind 
from  age.  From  her  great  kindness  of  heart  she  con- 
stantly sought  to  help  and  comfort  all  who  were  in  need. 
She  died  Sept.  22d,  1883,  aged  91  years,  in  full  faith  of 
a  blessed  immortality. 

Daniel  Ellis  was  a  man  of  rare  worth,  intelligence  and 
christian  virtues.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Ellisburg  all  his 
life.     His  wife, 

(98.)    MRS.  CHRISTINA  G.  SALISBURY,  was   the 

mother  of  his  seven  children.  (See  Nos.  260  to  273.) 
Her  maiden  name  was  Groat.  By  her  first  husband  she 
had  three  children,  one  of  whom,  Edward  Salisbury,  died 
in  Ellisburg  about  1875.  She  died  about  1825.  She  is 
remembered  as  a  woman  of  great  beauty  and  loveliness 
of  character.  Both  herself  and  husband  Daniel  Ellis  were 
active  and  prominent  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 

(99.)  HANNAH  ELLIS,  eldest  daughter  of  Caleb  of 
Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  was  born  April  3d,  1782.  She  married 
Comfort  Chapman  and  had  five  children.  (See  Nos.  276 
to  284,  page  23.) 

(101.)  JOHN  ELLIS,  second  son  of  Caleb,  was  born 
Feb.  3d,  1784.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y., 
where  he  died  in  1847. 

His  first  wife  was  Mary  Stilwell,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children — Caleb,  born  1807,  and  Squire,  born  1809. 

John  Ellis'  second  wife  was  Betsey  Smith,  by  whom 
he  had  four  children.  (See  Nos.  290  to  296.)  She  died 
in  1837. 

John  Ellis'  third  wife  was  Kate  Duran  by  whom  he 
had  one  son,  Edward  N.  Ellis  (298),  who  is  a  captain  of  a 
vessel  on  the  lakes.      She  died  in  Ellisburg  in  1884. 


128 

(106.)  JANE  ELLIS,  second  daughter  of  Caleb,  was 
born  February  6th,  1786.  About  1808  she  married 
Amasa  Sheldon,  in  the  town  of  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.  She 
died  in  Ellisburg  about  1849,  and  Mr.  Sheldon  in  1845. 
They  had  six  children,  all  born  in  Ellisburg.  (See  Nos. 
300  to  308,  page  24.) 

Parley  Sheldon,  bom  18 10,  settled  in  Ohio.  He  was 
a  wealthy  farmer,  had  a  large  family,  and  died  about  1862. 

William  Sheldon,  born  181 2,  died  about  1870,  leaving 
four  or  five  children. 

Philo  Sheldon  was  an  invalid  all  his  life.  He  died 
about  1873. 

Robert  Sheldon  was  a  farmer  and  a  very  bright  and 
successful  business  man.     He  died  about  1880. 

Amasa  Sheldon,  Jr.,  the  youngest  child  of  Jane  Ellis 
and  Amasa  Sheldon,  left  home  about  1850  to  go  "  to  sea," 
and  has  npt  been  heard  from  since. 

(108.)  THOMAS  ELLIS,  third  son  of  Caleb  Ellis  of 
Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  was  born  June  19th,  1788.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Belleville, 
town  of  Ellisburg,  all  his  life,  where  he  died  in  1869. 

Thomas  Ellis  was  a  deeply  religious  man  and  an 
ardent  Methodist,  in  which  church  he  was  a  prominent 
and  influential  member,  as  well  as  a  liberal  supporter. 
He  was  a  strictly  temperance  man  all  his  life.  He  was 
a  man  of  uncommon  mental  endowment  and  provided  a 
liberal  education  for  all  his   children.     His  wife, 

(109.)  HANNAH  SALISBURY,  was  born  in  1793. 
They  were  married  in  181 2  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  which 
town  all  their  children  were  born.  They  had  ten  children. 
(See  Nos.  310  to  328.) 

(111.)  SQUIRE  ELLIS,  sixth  child  of  Caleb,  was 
born  June  6th,  1790.  He  was  a  miller  with  his  father  in 
Ellisburg.     He  died  unmarried  in  181 3. 


129 

(112.)  JAMES  ELLIS,  seventh  child  of  Caleb,  was 
born  Aug.  12th,  1792.  About  1815  he  married  Rachel 
Weiser  of  Ellisburg,  where  they  raised  a  family  of  four 
children.  (See  Nos.  330  to  336.)  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  farmer. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  181 2,  and  in  the  battles  of 
Sackett's  Harbor  and  Big  Sandy  Creek,  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y.     He  died  in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1823.     His  wife, 

(113.)  RACHEL  WEISER,  was  a  daughter  of  Nicholas 
Weiser  and  Margaret  Walrad,  his  wife.  They  were  from 
the  Mohawk  valley  in  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  but  settled 
in  EUisburg  early  in  the  present  century.  Nicholas  Weiser, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  famous  as 
a  scout,  and  was  greatly  feared  by  the  Indians  and  tories. 
His  father,  Conrad  Weiser,  a  man  of  learning  and  genius, 
came  from  Germany  in  171 1,  and  settled  in  New  York. 
Mrs.  Rachel  Weiser  Ellis,  raised  a  family  of  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  now  living.    She  died  in  EUisburg,  in  1858. 

(116.)  ROBERT  ELLIS,  eighth  child  of  Caleb,  was 
born  March  24th,  1794.  He  married  in  1816  and  lived 
in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  where  he  raised  a  family  of  eleven 
children.  (See  Nos.  340  to  360.)  He  was  a  farmer.  He 
was  four  years  old  when  his  father  settled  in  EUisburg,  being 
the  first  settler'in  that  town.  They  soon  built  a  grist  mill  at 
what  is  now  called  Woodville,  a  small  village  in  the  town 
of  EUisburg.  His  father  settled  on  what  was  caUed  the  south 
branch  of  Sandy  Creek,  but  their  grist  mill  was  on  the  north 
branch  of  the  same  stream.  Robert  Ellis  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  181 2,  and  in  engagements  at  Sackett's  Harbor 
and  Sandy  Creek.  He  was  an  honest  and  upright  man. 
He  died  in  1863.     His  wife, 

(116.)  MARY  WEISER,  was  born  in  1798,  and  died 
about  1879.     She  was  a  sister  of  Rachel  Weiser  (113.) 

(118.)  POLLY,  SALLY,  AND  BETSEY  ELLIS,  were 
the  three  youngest  chUdren  of  Caleb  and  Mary  Crouch 
EUis  of  EUisburg,  N.  Y.  They  were  born— Polly,  April 
24th,  1796  ;  Sally,  March  14th,  1798,  and  Betsey,  May 
25th,  1800,  and  it  is  said  aU  died  in   infancy  or  early  Hfe. 


130 
FOURTH  GENERATION. 

Children  of  llenjamln  Kills  (22),  of  Setnpronlus,  Cayuga  Co., 

9(.  v.,   and  their  ^vlves  and   husbands.       Grand- 

children   of  Reuben   (4),   and  Oreat  -  grrand- 

children  of  Richard  Ellis  of  Ashfleld. 

From  9(os.  1x9  to  132. 

(119.)  STEPHEN  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Benjamin,  Sr., 
was  born  in  Ashfield,  Feb.  21st,  1775.  In  his  early  youth 
his  father  moved  to  Deerfield,  where  Stephen  probably  mar- 
ried his  wife  Susanah  Coburn,  Jan.  ist,  1798.  Early  in  the 
present  century  he  removed  to  Sempronius,  N.  Y,,  where 
his  father  had  settled  about  the  year  1800.  Here  he  raised 
his  family  of  seven  children. 

Stephen  Ellis,  was  a  farmer  and  miller.  It  is  said 
that  he  joined  with  his  father  in  building  a  small  grist  mill 
at  Montville,  a  little  hamlet  in  Cayuga  County,  in  or  near 
Sempronius.  The  mill  was  built  of  logs,  and  was  the 
first  one  in  that  section  of  country.  In  the  year  1818, 
Stephen  Ellis  together  with  his  brother  Moses  and  their 
families  removed  to  North  Bend,  Ohio,  on  the  Ohio  River, 
a  few  miles  below  Cincinnati,  where  they  landed  Aug.  2nd, 
1818,  and  rented  a  farm  from  Gen.  W.  H.  Harrison,  "the 
hero  of  Tippecanoe,"  and  afterwards  president  (in  1841)  of 
the  United  States.  Stephen  and  his  brother  lived  here 
about  eight  years,  during  which  time  they  built  a  grist  mill. 
In  the  spring  of  1825,  they  settled  on  farms  in  Fayette  Co., 
Ind.,  near  Connersville,  where  Stephen  lived  several  years. 
He  died  in  Yorktown,  Ind.,  in  1838.  Stephen  Ellis  was  a 
man  of  industry,  upright  and  honest  in  all  his  conduct.  He 
was  born  one  year  earlier,  and  in  the  same  neighborhood  in 
Ashfield,  as  his  father's  cousin  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis,  whom  he 
is  said  to  have  greatly  resembled.  (See  likeness  in  the  front 
of  the  book.)  He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  For 
his  second  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  Huntington,  who 
survived  him  a  number  of  years.  She  had  several  children 
by  a  former  husband,  one  of  whom,  Emily  Huntington, 
lived  some  years  ago  at  Putnam,  111.  The  latter  married 
Mr.  John  Langley,  of  Lafayette,  Ind. 


(120.)  SUSANAH  COBURN,  born  April  13th,  1777, 
wife  of  Stephen  Ellis  and  mother  of  his  children,  was  proba- 
ably  from  Deerfield,  Mass.  In  removing  from  Sempronius 
to  North  Bend,  Ohio,  they  went  across  the  country  over  100 
miles  to  Olean,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  the  Allegany 
river,  where  with  small  boats  and  rafts  they  went  down  that 
river  to  Pittsburg,  and  thence  on  the  Ohio  river  to  North 
Bend,  a  few  miles  below  Cincinnati.  This  must  have  been 
a  difficult  journey  and  attended  with  great  fatigue.  Within 
a  year  after  their  arrival  Mrs.  Ellis  died.  For  account  of 
her  children,  see  Nos.  362  to  374. 

(121,)  LURENCA  ELLIS,  second  child  of  Benjamin 
Ellis,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  Jan.  loth,  1777. 
Where  she  married  does  not  appear,  but  with  her  husband 
John  Phelps  and  family  she  lived  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
near  Moravia,  all  her  married  life.  She  had  ten  children. 
She  died  Oct.  2Sth,  1853. 

Lurenca  Ellis'  and  John  Phelps'  children  were  :  Alvah 
Phelps,  born  March  7th,  1799;  Susanah,  born  May  22nd, 
1802,  died  May  26th,  1870;  Sinthia,  born  Oct,  25th,  1804, 
died  Feb.  i6th,  1832;  Ruth,  born  Sept.  i8th,  1806;  Lucy 
born  Aug.  27th,  1807,  died  Oct.  24th,  1830;  John  W.,  born 
Sept.  I2th,  1811;  David  L.,  born  April  4th,  1814;  Benjamin 
E.,  born  Oct.  13th,  1816,  died  Feb.  i6th,  1840;  Lurenca, 
born  May  19th,  1819,  died  May  25th,  1842;  and  Ashie,  born 
Sept.  i8th,  1823,  died  Jan.  9th,  1824.  John  W.  Phelps,  born 
181 1,  now  lives  on  the  homestead  in  Niles,  near  Moravia, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  has  raised  his  family. 

(123.)  MOSES  ELLIS,  was  born  Sept.  17th,  1780, 
probably  in  Deerfield,  Mass.  About  the  last  of  Nov.,  1802, 
he  left  Mass.  for  Sempronius,  N.Y.,  where  his  father  bought 
a  farm  in  1800.  He  married  Elizabeth  Judd,  Oct.  14th,  1804, 
and  alter  her  death,  in  1841,  he  married  Desire  Harris,  about 
1844.     She  died  in  1846. 

In  1818  Moses  Ellis  and  his  family  left  Sempronius, 
Cayuga  Co.,  and  settled  at  North  Bend,  Ohio.     In  1825  he 


132 

removed  to  Plum  Orchard,  near  Connersville,  Ind.,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death  January  i6th,  1849.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church,  well-educated, 
scholarly  and  an  upright  and  honorable  man,  and  en- 
joyed the  confidence  of  the  relatives  in  Ashfield,  as  is 
evidenced  by  an  ancient  receipt  which  the  writer  finds 
among  old  papers  of  his  grandfather,  in  which  on  Nov.  27th, 
1802,  Moses  EUlis  was  entrusted  with  a  sum  ot  money  to 
be  conveyed  to  Moses  Bartlett,  of  Sempronius.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  this  was  before  the  formation  of  express 
companies,  and  the  only  means  of  conveying  money  to  dis- 
tant parts  in  those  times  was  by  individuals  of  known  inte- 
grity and  capacity.  It  is  probable  that  the  above  was  the 
date  at  which  Moses  left  Massachusetts,  to  settle  in  Sem- 
pronius, where  his  father  had  bought  a  farm  two  years 
before.      His  wife, 

(124.)  ELIZABETH  JUDD,  was  born  March  nth, 
1782,  and  died  near  Connersville,  Aug.  5th,  1841.  She  had 
six  children,  all  of  whom  except  the  youngest  were  born  in 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  (For  sketches  of  these  see  Nos.  380 
to  390.)     She  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church. 

(129.)  DANIEL  ELLIS,  son  of  Benjamin,  Sr.,  was 
probably  born  in  Deerfield  about  1782.  He  left  Massa- 
chusetts early  in  the  present  century,  and  went  to  Sempro- 
nius, N.  Y.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  of  181 2  he  enlisted, 
and  went  with  his  company  to  the  Niagara  River,  where 
they  were  stationed  for  a  time.  His  next  younger  brother, 
Benjamin,  Jr.,  was  a  member  of  the  same  company,  and 
while  the  latter  was  on  a  furlough  visiting  the  home  in 
Sempronius,  Daniel  was  taken  sick  and  died.  Mr.  Joseph 
Lassell,  of  Moravia,  N.  Y.,  now  93  years  of  age,  was  in  the 
same  company  and  remembers  Daniel  well.  Mr.  Lassell 
was  born  in  Buckland,  Mass.,  next  town  north  of  Ashfield, 
and  when  12  years  of  age  settled  in  Moravia,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  hns  a  very  clear  recollection 
of  all  these  Ellises  who  lived  in  that  vicinity  in  the  early 
part  of  the  century. 


133 
It  is  not  probable  that  Daniel  Ellis  was  ever  married. 
When  he  left  Massachusetts  for  Sempronius  the  Ashfield 
relatives  intrusted  him  with  money  to  be  paid  to  friends  in 
Sempronius,  and  he  faithfully  complied  with  the  trust. 

(126.)  KENJAMIN  ELLIS,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Deer- 
field,  Mass.,  Feb.  13th,  1784.  He  was  a  farmer  and  miller, 
and  for  many  years  an  exhorter,  or  unlicensed  minister,  in 
the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  was  a  devoted  member. 
He  was  a  strictly  sober  and  temperate  man  all  his  life,  and 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  a  very 
numerous  and  popular  order  some  years  ago,  for  suppress- 
ing the  evils  of  intemperance.  He  was  a  leading  officer  in 
this  order,  and  when  he  wore  the  regalia  peculiar  to  the  same 
it  gave  him  a  very  venerable  appearance.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  181 2.  He  was  widely  known  and  universally 
respected  as  a  pure  and  upright  man  beloved  by  all. 

In  an  early  day  he  purchased  a  farm  three  miles  north  of 
Moravia,  N.  Y.,  on  which  he  raised  his  family.  It  was  an 
altogether  new  country  at  that  time,  and  deer,  bears  and 
wolves  were  numerous.  No  grain  could  be  grown  until  the 
trees  were  cleared  off  and  the  ground  broken  up.  In  those 
times  money  was  scarce,  as  well  as  all  the  comforts  of  life. 
An  annual  tax  of  forty  cents  on  a  farm  was  thought  extrava- 
gant. Canals  and  railroads  were  then  unknown  and  the 
settlers  few  in  number.  Great  economy  was  necessary  in 
those  times  to  meet  the  simplest  expenses. 

He  learned  the  milling  business  with  his  father  at  their 
little  mill  at  Montville,  near  Moravia. 

While  a  soldier  on  the  frontier  at  Niagara  River  he  was 
given  a  furlough  to  visit  his  family  in  Sempronius,  or  Niles, 
as  it  was  afterwards  called.  In  making  the  trip  he  walked 
on  foot  both  ways.  He  died  in  Groton,  Tompkins  County, 
N.  Y.,  May  nth,  1859.  He  had  five  children,  three  of 
whom  survived  him.     (See  Nos.  392  to  399.) 

Benjamin  Ellis,  Jr.'s  wife, 


134 

(127.)  ABIGAIL  HOWARD,  was  born  in  178-.  She 
married  Mr.  Ellis  in  Sempronius,  Feb.  23d,  1809.  They  al- 
ways lived  in  that'town  or  vicinity.  She  died  Feb.  5th,  1883, 
at  the  residence  of  her  son,  Nathan  H,  Ellis,  in  Ludlovvville, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  whom  she  made  her  home  after 
the  death  of  her  husband  in  1859.  She  was  a  woman  ot 
superior  education  and  talents,  and  of  a  remarkable  memory. 
She  retained  her  mental  and  physical  powers  in  a  high  de- 
gree up  to  her  last  days,  and  she  lived  to  be  over  90  years 
of  age. 

Before  her  marriage  she  crossed  the  Catskill  Mountains 
on  horseback  and  rode  190  miles  to  meet  her  intended  hus- 
band. It  was  in  the  month  of  February,  and  she  often  re- 
lated that  the  weather  was  so  mild  that  peach  and  other 
fruit  trees  were  in  bloom — a  cheerful  omen  for  a  bride, 
which  was  fully  realized  in  all  her  married  life. 

(128.)  REUBEN  ELLIS,  fifth  son  of  Benjamin,  Sr., 
was  born  probably  in  Deerfield,  Mass.,  April  7th,  1786.  He 
died  in  Clymer,  Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  24th,  1845. 
He  was  a  half-brother  to  the  elder  children.  His  mother 
was  Lois  Mann,  the  second  wife  of  Benjamin  Ellis,  Sr. 
(See  page  81.)  When  a  youth  he  lived  with  his  father  in 
Sempronius,  at  which  place  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  King,  Feb.  6th,  181 1,  where  five  of  their  children 
were  born. 

About  1819  he  removed  to  Murray,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  from  there  to  Clymer,  Chautauqua  Co.,  about  1830. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  a  Baptist  in  religious  belief,  and 
said  to  have  been  an  honorable  and  upright  man  in  all  his 
ways.      His  wife, 

(129.)  ELIZABETH  KING,  was  born  April  3d,  1793. 
She  died  in  Portiand,  Chautauqua  Co.,  March  23d,  1876. 
She  was  a  Baptist.  She  had  twelve  children.  (See  Nos. 
401  to  420.) 

(130.)  MEHITABLE  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Ellis,  Sr.,  was  born  about  1788,  probably  in  Deerfield.      It 


135 
is  said  that  she  married  Lawrence  Kemp,  at  or  near  Semp- 
ronius,  N.  Y.      They  soon  after  removed  from  there,  and 
the  writer  has  not  been  able  to  get  any  further  trace  of  them 
or  their  descendants,  if  they  had  any. 

(132.)  CHELOMETH  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Ben- 
jamin, Sr.,  was  born  about  1790,  in  Massachusetts.  She 
married  Walter  Avery,  Jr.,  in  or  near  Sempronius,  and  had 
five  children.  She  died  in  1844.  Her  husband,  Walter 
Avery,  was  born  in  1787,  and  died  in  Erie  County,  Pa., 
in  1861. 

The  children  of  Walter  and  Chelometh  Ellis  Avery 
were  :    Fannie,  Melvina,  Lyman,  Sarah,  and  Mary. 

Fannie  Avery,  born  May  15th,  1826,  died  Jan.  22nd,  1851. 
She  married  Zalmon  Ames,  and  had  three  sons,  Cyrenus  C, 
Alfred  O.,  and  Francis  M.  Ames.  They  lived  at  Mina, 
Chautauqua  County,  N.  Y. 

Malvina  Avery,  born  Dec.  27th,  1827,  died  April  25th, 
1876.  She  married  William  Haven,  and  had  four  children: 
Martha,  Etta,  Ella  and  Walter  Avery  Haven.  They  lived 
in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Lyman  Avery,  born  June  ist,  1830,  died  in  1863.  He 
married  Mary  Haven,  and  had  two  daughters,  Emma  and 
Ida  May.      They  lived  at  Findley's  Lake,  Chautauqua  Co. 

Sarah  Avery,  born  April  29th,  1832,  married  Ransom 
Wood.  She  had  three  children:  George,  Elias,  and  Esther 
Wood.      They  now  live  at  Spring  Creek,  Warren  Co.,  Pa. 

Mary  Avery,  born  July  30th,  1834,  died  Oct.  24th,  1875. 
She  married  Zalmon  Ames,  and  had  seven  children:  Lydia 
M.,  Henry,  Mary  E.,  Fred  C,  Eva  J.,  Warren  M.,  and 
Hattie  Jane  Ames.  They  lived  at  Brownsdale,  Mower  Co., 
Minn. 


136 

Children  of  Jonathan  Bills  (a6),  of  Sempronlus,  K.  V.,  and 

their  husbands  and  iivlves,  CSrandchldren  of  Reuben 

(4),  and   Great-grandchildren  of  Richard 

Ellis.     Prom  Kos.  134  to  140. 

(1»4.)  SUBMIT  ELLIS,  eldest  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  April  19th,  1803.  She 
died  in  Bronson,  Branch  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  23rd,  1877. 
September  9th,  1819,  she  married  Nathaniel  Havens,  at 
Moravia,  N.  Y.,  and  had  nine  children.  She  had  46  grand- 
children and  20  great-grandchildren.  Two  of  her  sons  were 
Union  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Most  of  her 
children  were  born  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  but  later  in  life 
she  and  her  husband  lived  in  southern  Michigan.  Her 
husband, 

(135.)  NATHANIEL  HAVENS,  was  born  in  Sept., 
1800,  and  died  at  Liberty,  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  6th,  1874. 
He  was  a  farmer,  as  were  all  his  children.  The  names  of  the 
latter  were  George,  Lois,  Sarah  Ann,  Miranda  Jane,  Susan, 
Nathaniel  Jr.,  Lyman,  John  West  and  Submit  Havens. 

George  Havens,  was  born  June  i8th,  1821,  married 
Lorinda  Jane  Clifford,  Nov.  12th,  1846,  lived  in  Erie,  Pa., 
and  died  Aug.  21st,  1855. 

Lois  Havens,  born  April  i6th,  1814,  married  Hiram 
Moses,  June  23rd,  1846.  They  lived  at  Somerset  Center, 
Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich. 

Sarah  Ann  Havens,  born  April  28th,  1826,  married 
Nelson  Gould,  April  5th,  1840.  They  are  farmers  and  live 
at  Byron  Center,  Kent  Co.,  Mich.  Mr.  Gould  was  born  in 
Homer,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  28th,  1818.  Their 
children  are  John  H.,  born  in  Somerset,  Hillsdale  Co., 
Mich.,  Apr.  3rd,  1842,  enlisted  as  a  Union  soldier  and  died 
in  the  army  Nov.  loth,  1862.  Amanda  A.,  born  in  Somer- 
set, Sept.  ist,  1843,  died  Jan.  27th,  1854;  Lena  A.,  born  in 
Somerset,  Feb.  23rd,  1846;  Cynthia  E.,  born  in  Somerset, 
Dec.  9th,  1848;  George  R.,  born  in  Darien,  Walworth  Co., 
Wis.,  Feb.  3rd,  1852;  Endress  N.,  born  in  Jamestown, 
Ottawa  Co.,  Mich.,  March  30th,  1854;  Seymour  W.,  born 


137 

in  Jamestown,  July  4lh,  1857;  Emmet  F.,  born  in  James- 
town, Oct.  2ist,  1859;  Clarissa  S.,  born  in  Somerset,  March 
23rd,  1863;  Sarah  E.,  born  in  Jamestown,  Feb.  12th,  1866, 
and  James  F,  Gould,  born  in  Jamestown,  Oct.  ist,  1869. 

John  Havens,  born  Oct.  6th,  1828,  died  Feb.  i6th,  1833. 

Miranda  Jane  Havens,  born  Sept.  3rd,  1831,  married 
Benjamin  F.  Havens,  May  3rd,  1855.  They  live  at  Ad- 
dison, Lenawee  Co.,  Mich. 

Susan  Havens,  born  Oct.  21st,  1834,  married  Alonzo  C. 
Heydon,  March  15th,  1853.  They  lived  in  Erie,  Pa.,  where 
her  son  Emery  Heydon  now  resides.  She  died  June  12th, 
1885. 

Nathaniel  Havens  Jr.,  born  May  28th,  1838,  married 
Tirza  M.  Swift,  June  17th,  i860.  They  live  on  a  farm  six 
miles  from  Bronson,  Mich.  They  have  had  four  children. 
Orville  W.,  died  in  infancy.  Fred  L.,  died  in  infancy. 
Arthur  J.,  born  Feb.  24th,  1867,  in  Somerset,  Mich.  Burt 
L.,  born  Aug.  25th,  1873,  in  Bronson. 

Lyman  Havens,  born  Sept.  27th,  1842,  married  Mary  L. 
Pepper.  April  8th,  1866.  He  married  his  second  wife  Mary 
Beebe,  Nov,  28th,  1868.  He  lives  at  Byron  Center,  Kent 
Co.,  Mich.  He  enlisted  in  Company  G.,  i8th  Mich.  In- 
fantry, and  was  a  prisoner  in  Cahawba  prison  six  months. 

John  W.  Havens,  born  Sept.  4th,  1845,  married  Amy 
Rhoads,  July  12th,  1868.  He  married  his  second  wife, 
Augusta  Baldwin,  Aug.  i6th,  1874.  He  now  resides  at 
Moscow,  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.  He  was  a  Union  soldier  in  a 
Mich.  Battery,  and  served  two  years. 

Submit  Havens,  born  Aug.  15th,  1848,  married  James 
Rhoads,  July  12th,  1868.  She  lives  at  Liberty,  Jackson 
Co.,  Mich. 

(136.)  ABEL  WEST  ELLIS,  son  of  Jonathan  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Sempronius,  about  three  miles  north  of  Moravia, 
N.  Y.,  March  3rd,  1806.  He  died  in  Ripley,  Chautauqua 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  14th,  1877.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Ripley, 
where  he  settled  in  1836.     He  lived  for  a  time  in  Alleghany 


138 

Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  married  his  wife.  Mr.  Ellis  was  over 
six  feel  tall,  straight  and  well-proportioned,  black  hair  and 
eyes  and  dark  complexion.     His  wife, 

(137.)  MARGARET  NORTON,  was  born  in  Alleghany 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1806.  She  was  married  July  21st,  1832,  in 
Alleghany  Co.,  where  her  parents  lived  many  3^ears.  She 
died  in  Ripley,  Sept.  19th,  1866.  She  had  six  children. 
(See  Nos.  444  to  453.) 

(138)  JOHN  AILIS  ELLIS,  son  of  Jonathan,  was 
born  in  Sempronius,  March  i6th,  1809.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  about  three  years  of  age,  but  he  was  raised  on 
the  farm  where  his  parents  settled  in  1800.  When  of  age 
he  made  a  visit  to  his  uncle  Richard  Ellis,  in  Ellisburg,  Pa., 
and  in  1833,  he  visited  his  uncles  David  in  Springfield,  Pa., 
and  Benjamin  Sr.,  at  Plum  Orchard,  (near  Connersville)  Ind. 
March  20th,  1833,  he  married  Miss  Eliza  Ann  Fairchild,  in 
Ripley,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  which  place  his  elder 
brother  and  mother  had  removed  some  time  before.  He 
lived  in  Ripley,  where  his  three  eldest  children  were  bom, 
until  about  1839,  when  he  bought  a  farm  near  Conneaut, 
Ohio,  where  he  has  since  resided  and  where  he  now  lives  at 
an  advanced  age. 

Mr.  Ellis  is  a  scholarly  man,  of  close  observation  and 
remarkable  memory.  From  his  ample  correspondence  the 
writer  has  learned  much  regarding  the  early  members  of 
the  Ellis  family,  which  could  not  be  had  elsewhere,  and 
which  has  been  of  great  value  in  compiling  this  work.  In 
nearly  every  instance,  statements  from  him  founded  on  his 
recollection  from  personal  observation  or  communicated  to 
him  by  his  ancestors,  have  been  verified  by  statistics  from 
various  sources. 

Mr.  Ellis  is  a  tall  man  over  six  feet  high,  and  dark  com- 
plexion. The  likeness  of  him  on  opposite  page  was  copied 
from  a  photograph,  taken  when  he  was  75  years  of  age. 
His  wife  was  Eliza  Ann  Fairchild,  of  Batavia,  N.  Y, 


(138.)     JOHN  ALLIS   ELLIS, 

OF   CONNEAUT,  OHIO. 


[139-] 


141 

(139.)  ELIZA  ANN  FAIRCHILD,  was  bom  in  Batavia, 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  8th,  1813.  Her  father  was  Henry,  and  her 
grandfather  John  Fairchild,  of  Columbia  Co.,  N.  T.,  Mrs. 
Ellis  had  been  an  invalid,  and  a  great  sufferer  from  sciatic 
rheumatism  for  several  years.  She  died  in  the  spring  of 
1886.     She  had  six  children.    (See  Nos.  455  to  465.) 

(UO.)  *BOADISEA  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Jonathan 
Ellis  and  his  wife,  Lois  AUis,  was  born  on  the  homestead 
in^Niles  or  Sempronius  (three  miles  north  of  Moravia),  N.  Y., 
July  25th,  181 1.  Early  in  life  she  married  Mr.  John  Fritts 
and  had  two  children,  one  of  whom  died  young.  The  other, 
Mr.  Alvin  Fritts,  born  in  Cayuga  Co.,  in  1832,  married 
Mary  Gray  in  Concord,  Mich.,  in  1849.  Their  children 
were:  Avery,  born  1852;  Emma,  born  1854;  Charles,  born 
1856  and  John  Fritts,  born  i860.  At  last  accounts  they 
lived  at  Albion,  Mich.,  where  Emma  married  a  Mr.  Aldrich. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Alvin  Fritts  enlisted  and 
went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  was  attacked  with  fever 
and  died.  He  was  a  man  of  superior  ability,  commanding 
in  appearance,  pleasing  in  his  address  and  won  for  himself 
many  friends. 

Mr.  John  Fritts  died  about  1834,  and  in  1839,  when 
twent^'^-eight  years  of  age,  his  widow  married  Mr.  Wm.  W. 
King  in  Ripley,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  which  place  she 
had  removed  just  before.  They  soon  after  removed  to 
Erie,  Pa.,  for  two  years,  thence  to  Concord,  Jackson  Co., 
Mich.,  where  she  died  Sept.  4th,  185 1.  In  her  youth  she 
joined  the  Methodist  church,  of  which  she  was  a  member 
until  after  her  marriage  to  Mr.  King,  when  she  joined  the 
Baptist  church. 

Her  friends  remember  her  as  true  and  kind  hearted.  The 
poor  spoke  of  her  as  benevolent  and  her  children  love  to 
think  of  her  as  the  noble  self-sacrificing  mother  who  sought 


*This  name  is  found  in  history  at  an  early  date.  About  A.  D.,  lo,  Boadisea  was  Queen 
of  Iceni,  a  province  which  is  now  comprised  in  several  counties  in  the  interior  of  England. 
She  was  a  woman  of  great  beauty  and  courage.  She  was  defeated  by  the  Romans,  under 
Caesar,  in  a  battle  in  which  over  80,000  of  her  subjects,  which  she  commanded,  were  slain. 


142 

to  shield  them  from  sorrow  and  mitigate  their  cares.  The 
church  remembers  her  as  a  faithful,  consistent  member,  ever 
loyal  to  her  vows.  Full  of  Christian  charity  she  won  for 
herself  many  friends. 

"Who  knew  her,  but  to  love  her; 
Who'l  name  her,  but  to  praise." 

(HI.)  WM.  W.  KING,  was  born  in  Pownal,  Vt., 
March  30th,  1799.  His  parents  died  when  he  was  young, 
and  he  was  brought  up  by  a  brother  of  his  mother.  At 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  went  out  into  the  world  to  make 
his  way.  At  twenty  four-years  of  age  he  joined  the  Baptist 
church,  and  has  ever  been  noted  for  his  strong  religious 
convictions  and  Christian  deportment.  About  1853  he  settled 
on  a  farm  near  Carson  City,  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich,  where  he 
yet  resides  a  hale  and  hearty  old  gentleman,  at  the  unusual 
age  of  87  years,  widely  known  and  respected.  He  lives  with 
his  only  son  now  living,  Mr.  Charles  D.  King,  on  the 
homestead  which  he  took  up  from  the  government  in  1853. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King  were:  William  R., 
bom  1841,  died  in  1871;  Charles  D,,  born  1843;  James, 
born  1844,  died  1845;  Emily  D.,  born  1848  and  George, 
born  1850,  died  1852. 

William  R.  King  married  Melissa  Richardson  in 
Bloomer,  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1866.  Their  children 
were:     Ina,  born  1868  and  Electa,  born  1870. 

Charles  D.  King  was  born  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa.  In  early  life 
he  went  with  his  father  to  Montcalm  Co.,  Mich.,  when  that 
section  was  a  wilderness.  His  father  bought  a  large  farm 
near  Carson  City,  where  the  father  and  son  now  reside. 
Mr.  Charles  D.  King  lives  on  the  homestead.  In  1867  he 
married  Miss  Jennie  Smith,  of  Bushnell,  Montcalm  Co. 
They  have  one  child,  Ethel  King,  born  1881.  Besides 
farming,  Mr.  King  engages  in  various  other  business  pursuits. 
He  is  a  very  enterprising  and  highly  respected  man. 

Emily  D.  King  was  born  in  Concord,  Mich.     When  three 
years  of  age  her  mother  died.     At  the  age  of  six  years  her 


143 
father  settled  near  Carson  City,  at  a  time  when  schools  were 
few  and  not  of  the  best,  but  with  energy  and  perseverance 
she  fitted  herself  at  i8  years  of  age  to  become  a  teacher, 
which  pursuit  she  followed  nearly  nine  years,  a  portion  of 
the  time  as  teacher  in  the  grammar  department  of  the  Union 
School  in  Carson  City. 

June  ist,  1874,  she  married  Dr.  Henry  H.  Cook,  by 
whom  she  had  two  children:  Henry  H.,  Jr.,  and  Ely  Cook. 
The  latter  died  in  1881. 

Mrs.  Cook  resides  in  Mason,  Mich.  She  is  secretary  of 
the  Board  of  Education  and  also  has  a  lucrative  and  respon- 
sible position  in  the  office  of  county  treasurer  at  Mason 
where  she  is  highly  respected. 


Cblldren  of  Dea.  Rlctiard  Bills  (29),  of  ISllisburg:,  Pa.,  and 

tlielr    'Wives    and    husbands.     Grandchildren    of 

Reuben  (4),  and  Great-srrandchildren  of 

Richard  Hills  of  Ashfield.     From 

143  to  172. 

(143.)  HANFORD  ELLIS,  first  child  of  Richard,  was 
born,  probably  in  Ashfield,  Nov.  7th,  1781.  He  died  Nov. 
6th,  the  following  year. 

(144.)  LYDIA  ELLIS,  was  born  Feb.  ist,  1783,  and 
died  in  Shippen,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  Aug.  2nd,  1819.  She 
married  Col.  Daniel  H.  Bacon  in  1798  and  had  seven 
children.  They  were  married  in  Candor,  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  they  lived  until  1815,  when  they  removed  to  Delmar, 
Pa.,  and  purchased  a  large  tract  of  wild  land,  which 
Mr.  Bacon  and  his  sons  cleared  up  and  made  for  themselves 
homes. 

Their  children:  Oliver,  born  1801,  died  April  30th,  1882; 
Eunice,  born  1803,  died  1884;  Nancy,  born  1805,  died  1872; 
Lewis,  born  1807,  died  1864;  Hannah,  born  1809;  Chloe, 
born  181 2;  Daniel,  born  1815,  died  1865. 


144 
Oliver  Bacon,  born  April  2nd,  1801,  married  Miss 
Catharine  Houghton  March  30th,  1823,  and  their  children 
were:  Chauncy,  born  Aug.  26th,  1825,  married  Electa 
Satterlee,  of  Delmar,  died  1857.  Eunice,  born  Jan.  15th, 
1828,  married  in  1848  J.  C.  Barth,  of  Delmar.  Simeon, 
born  June  12th,  1830,  married  in  1868  to  Frances  Shelton, 
of  Delmar.  Pharez,  born  June  12th,  1834,  married  in  1883 
to  Lottie  T.  Green,  of  Williamsport,  Pa,  Eli,  born  July 
5th,  1832,  married  in  1853  to  Adaline  May,  of  Charleston. 
Dr.  Daniel,  born  May  21st,  1836,  married  in  1876  to 
Florence  Green  and  lives  in  Wellsboro,  Pa.  Lydia,  born 
May  19th,  1838,  married  in  1853  to  G.  F.  Butler,  of  Delmar. 
Esther,  born  Oct.  26th,  1840,  married  in  1875  ^^  James 
Van  Degrift,  of  Delmar.  Aspah,  born  Aug.  i8th,  1843, 
married  in  1867  to  Neomi  Brooks,  of  Madison  Co.,  111. 
Oliver,  Jr.,  born  Nov.  14th,  1845,  married  in  1869  to  Elsie 
M.  Barth.  She  died  in  1874  ^^^  ^*"-  Bacon  married  for  his 
second  wife,  in  1882,  Jennie  Bunnell,  of  Greene,  Chenango 
Co.,  N.  Y.  They  now  live  in  Wellsboro,  Pa.  Seth,  born 
Oct.  14th,  1847,  married  in  1869  to  Helen  Barth,  of  Delmar, 
where  they  now  live. 

Mr.  Oliver  Bacon,  Sr.'s  wife,  Catharine,  lives  with  her 
son,  Oliver,  Jr.,  on  the  homestead  at  the  advanced  age  of  82 
years. 

Eunice  Bacon,  born  1803,  married  in  182 1  to  William 
Dimick.     She  died  in  1884. 

Nancy  Bacon,  born  1805,  married  in  1825  to  James 
Henry.     She  died  in  1872. 

Lewis  Bacon,  born  1807,  married  in  1844  ^^  Filena 
Frost.     He  died  in  1864. 

Hannah  Bacon,  born  1809,  married  in  1830  to  Calvin 
Newton. 

Chloe  Bacon,  born  181 2,  married  in  1838  to  William 
Howe  and  live  in  Delmar. 

Daniel  Bacon,  born  1815,  married  in  1838  to  Louisa 
Atherton. 


MS 
(146.)  ASAPH  ELLIS,  third  child  of  Richard,  was 
born  Sept.  8th,  1785,  and  settled  in  Clearfield  Co.,  Pa., 
where  he  raised  a  family  of  eight  children.  Clearfield  is 
about  one  hundred  miles  southwest  of  EUisburg,  Pa.,  where 
many  of  Asaph's  relatives  lived,  and  but  little  is  known 
about  himself  and  family.     His  wife  was 

(147.)  AMANDA  SPENCER.  Their  children  were: 
Charles,  Richard,  Horace,  Chauncy,  Harriett,  Pliny, 
Hannah  and  Orlando.  If  the  writer  obtains  any  definite 
information  regarding  them  it  will  be  given  further  on  under 
No.  482. 

(148.)  HANNAH  ELLIS,  fourth  child  of  Richard 
Ellis,  of  EUisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  probably  in  Shelburn, 
Mass.,  March  12th,  1787.  She  married  Frederick  Tanner, 
while  her  father  lived  in  Candor,  N.  Y.,  and  had  one  child. 
She  died  in  New  York  at  the  age  of  23  years. 

(150.)  LUCINDA  ELLIS,  was  born  April  3rd,  1789, 
and  died  in  Wellsboro,  Pa.,  in  1842.  She  married  David 
Henry  and  lived  near  Wellsboro,  where  they  raised  seven 
children. 

William  Henry  died  in  1882. 

Charles  is  a  farmer,  married  and  lives  in  Delmar. 

David  is  married  and  lives  in  Wisconsin. 

Lovica  married  Richard  English  and  they  live  in  Wells- 
boro, Pa. 

Mary  married  a  King.  She  died  in  1871.  Her  sons, 
Hugh  and  Galusha  King,  are  married  and  live  in  Westfield, 
Tioga  Co.,  Pa. 

Lydia  lives  in  Wellsboro  and  her  sister,  Margaret  Henry, 
died  in  Wellsboro  in  1877. 

(152.)  RET.  CONSIDER  ELLIS,  son  of  Richard 
Ellis,  of  EUisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  Nov.  6th,  1791,  in  Shelburn, 
Mass.,  and  died  in  EUisburg,  Pa.,  1866.  He  was  a  Baptist 
minister  and  also  engaged  in  milling  a  portion  of  his  time. 
He  had  three  children,  see  No.  500.     His  wife. 


146 

(153.)  MARY  LOVELL,  bom  1804,  married  Mr.  ElUs 
in  Delmar,  Pa.,  June  23rd,  1822.  She  now  resides  in  Ellis- 
burg  with  her  daughter,  Prudence,  who  married  Samuel 
Rouse. 

(154.)  RET.  JOHN  ELLIS,  son  of  Richard  Ellis,  of 
EUisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  Aug.  27th,  1792,  in  Shelburn,  Mass. 
He  was  a  Baptist  minister.  He  married  Elizabeth  Faulkner, 
and  had  five  children.  See  Nos.  506  to  513.  About  1830 
he  left  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  with  his  family  in  the  town 
of  Great  Valley,  about  two  miles  south  of  Ellicottville, 
Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
March  14th,  1862.  At  Great  Valley,  he  had  a  good  farm 
and  grist  mill,  also  a  saw  mill  near  the  latter.  Himself 
and  family  are  said  to  have  been  very  excellent  people. 
His  wife  Elizabeth,  died  early  in  life,  1837. 

(166.)  EUNICE  ELLIS,  born  May  3rd,  1794,  and  died 
at  Big  Meadows,  Pa.,  1874.  ^^^  ^^^  a  Baptist,  and  a  truly 
noble  and  Christian  woman.  She  married  Mr.  Reuben 
Herrington,  about  181 2,  and  settled  at  Big  Meadows,  where 
they  always  lived,  and  where  Mr.  Herrington  died  in  1862, 
age  71  years.  They  had  twelve  children:  Richard,  Jacob, 
Sarah  Ann,  Nancy  died  in  1843,  Charles,  Geo.  W.,  Deroy, 
Elsie,  Leonard  P.,  Harriet  E.,  Horace,  and  Benjamin 
Herrington. 

Jacob  Herrington,  bom  1815,  married  Katharine  Ann 
Thompson,  about  1840.  They  had  four  sons  and  one 
daughter.  Mr.  Herrington  now  lives  in  Sweden,  Potter 
Co.,  Pa.  He  is  an  extensive  farmer  and  lumberman.  His 
wife  died  about  1870. 

Sarah  Ann,  born  1817,  married  Chester  Corsan,  and  had 
seven  children.  They  live  in  Sweden,  Pa.,  where  they  keep 
a  hotel. 

Charles,  born  182 1,  married  Sarah  Jane  Mathers.  They 
had  six  children.  They  live  in  Wellsboro,  Pa.  He  is  a 
farmer  and  lumber  merchant. 

George  W.,  born  1823,  married  Matilda  Schoonover,  and 
they  have  three  daughters  living  in  Ansonia,  Pa.      He  was 


147 

in  the  saw  and  grist-mill  business,  and  more  lately  keeping 
a  hotel. 

Deroy,  born  1825,  married  Maria  Merrick,  and  had  four 
children.  They  reside  at  Ansonia,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.  He  is  a 
farmer. 

Harriet  E.,  born  1830,  married  John  Purvis,  and  they 
reside  at  Niles  Valley,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa, 

Horace  P.  Herrington,  born  1837,  married  Elizabeth 
Holmes,  and  lives  on  the  homestead  at  Ansonia,  Pa.  They 
have  three  children. 

(158.)  ELD.  RICHARD  ELLIS,  Jr.,  son  of  Richard, 
of  Ellisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  Dec.  6th,  1795,  and  died  in 
Wellsboro,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  1827.  He  was  a  Baptist  minister, 
but  unordained.  He  had  four  children,  all  born  in  Delmar, 
Pa.     (See  Nos.  522  to  528.)     His  wife, 

(159.)  PATIENCE  HERRINGTON,  was  born  1802, 
and  married  Mr.  Ellis  Feb.  3rd,  1818.  She  was  a  Baptist 
and  a  sincere  Christian  woman.  She  died  at  her  home  near 
Whitesville,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1855. 

She  was  a  sister  of  Mr.  Reuben  Herrington,  who 
married  Eunice  Ellis  (156). 

(160.)  DAVID  ELLIS,  was  born  July  8th,  1797,  and 
died  at  Big  Meadows,  Tioga  Co.,  where  he  had  resided 
nearly  all  his  life.  He  was  a  mill-wright  by  trade,  and  for 
ten  years  a  justice  or  magistrate  and  for  six  years  a  county 
commissioner.  He  was  highly  respected  and  a  consistent 
and  active  Christian  of  the  Baptist  faith  all  his  life.  He 
died  in  1857.      His  wife, 

(161.)  ORILLA  DIMICK,  was  born  in  1801  and  died 
in  Shippen,  Pa.,  1867.  Jan.  13th,  1819  she  married  Mr. 
Ellis  and  they  raised  nine  children,  (see  Nos.  530  to  546.) 
She  was  a  Baptist.  It  is  said  that  she  was  distantly  related 
to  the  Dimicks  of  Ashfield  and  Barnstable,  Mass. 

(162.)      POLLY,    MEHITABLE,    BENJAMIN    and 

THOMAS  J.  ELLIS,  children  of  Richard  Ellis,  of  Ellis- 
burg, Pa.,  all  died  in  infancy. 


148 

Polly  was  born  Feb.  4th,  1799,  died  on  the  28th  of  the 
same  month.  Benjamin,  born  March  8th,  1800,  died  the 
same  month.  Thomas  J.,  born  April  25th,  1801,  died  April 
6th,  1802.  Mehitable,  born  May  4th,  1805,  died  Sept.  4th, 
of  the  same  year. 

These  four  children  were  born  in  Candor,  Tioga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  their  parents  lived  after  their  removal  from 
Massachusetts,  up  to  about  181 1,  when  they  settled  in  Tioga 
Co.,  Pa. 

(163.)  POLLY  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Richard  Ellis,  of 
Ellisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  Aug.  12th,  1803,  and  died  of  a 
malignant  fever  in  the  autumn  of  1819  at  Big  Meadows,  Pa. 
She  married  Paul  N.  Dimick,  who  was  born  in  1799,  and 
they  had  one  child. 

(166.)  LUCRETIA  ELLIS,  was  born  July  15th,  1806, 
in  Candor,  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  1829,  she  married  Elder 
Benjamin  G.  Avery,  and  they  settled  in  Allegany,  Cattarau- 
gus Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had  six  children.  Richard  B.,  born 
1831;  Thomas  W.,  born  1833;  Mary  P.,  born  1835;  William 
C,  born  1837 ;  Sarah  L.,  born  1840;  and  James  T.,  born  1843. 

Richard  B.  Avery,  was  born  June  8th,  1831,  in  Allegany 
N.  Y.  He  was  an  officer  in  the  Union  army;  first  in  the 
commissary  department,  and  afterwards  adjutant-general. 
He  married  a  lady  in  Mississippi  soon  after  the  close  of  the 
war.  They  have  two  children,  Hattie  and  Blanch.  They 
now  reside  in  Mississippi.  Mr.  Avery,  is  the  inventor  of 
the  "Avery  Hydro-Carbon  fuel  and  illuminating  gas 
process,"  which  is  said  to  be  an  invention  of  great  merit. 

Thomas  W.  Avery,  born  in  Allegany,  N.  Y.,  June 
13th,  1833,  removed  to  Oregon  with  his  mother  and  step- 
father, where  he  died  Dec.  8th,  1867.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Oregon  legislature  the  year  before  his  death. 

Mary  P.  Aveiy,  born  in  Allegany,  N.  Y.,  April  30th, 
1835,^  married  Mr.  C.  M.  Sawtelle,  and  removed  to  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  where  she  now  resides  with  her  family. 
She  has  four  children  living.     She  has  studied  and  graduated 


149 

in  medicine,  and  is  engaged  in  the  practice,  and  is  widely 
noted  as  a  lecturer  on  medicine,  physiology,  and  hygiene. 
She  also  publishes  a  paper  called  the  Medico  Literary 
Journal. 

William  C.  Avery,  was  born  in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept. 
5th,  1837.  He  was  married  to  Salome  A.  Larkin,  Nov. 
1867,  by  whom  he  had  one  son  and  three  daughters,  Mary, 
James,  (drowned  in  Mill-Creek,)  Minnie  and  Alice.  Mr. 
Avery  died  in  California,  March  25th,  1875. 

Sarah  L.  Avery,  born  in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  27th, 
1840,  died  in  Aug.,  1845. 

James  T.  Avery,  was  born  in  Vermillion  Co.,  111.,  June 
4th,  1843,  and  died  in  Clackamas  Co.,  Oregon,  June  24th, 
1867.     He  was  a  school  teacher. 

Elder  Benjamin  G.  Avery,  husband  of  Lucretia  Ellis, 
was  a  minister  of  the  Old  School  Baptist  denomination,  and 
devoted  his  energies  and  life  to  the  cause  of  his  Master. 
In  1843,  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Danville,  Vermillion 
Co.,  111.  In  1844  ^^  went  as  a  delegate  to  the  Spoon  River 
Association,  about  200  miles  from  home,  where  he  was 
taken  sick  with  a  fever  in  Sept.  and  died.  He  was  a  man 
of  a  pure  life,  and  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Mrs.  Lucretia  Ellis  Avery,  after  the  death  of  her  first 
husband,  married  July  6th,  1846,  Mr.  John  Stipp,  a  widower 
with  four  children.  The  next  year  Mr.  Stipp  with  his 
children,  his  wife  and  four  of  her  children,  started  by  the 
overland  route  for  Oregon,  where  they  arrived  Sept.  nth, 
1848.  They  settled  in  Clackamas  Co.,  when  the  whole 
territory  was  a  wilderness,  and  wild  animals  and  savage  red 
men  were  all  around  them.  It  is  almost  beyond  conception 
the  courage  required  to  undertake  such  a  journey,  as  was 
this  in  those  early  days.  For  courage,  resolution  and  faith 
in  God  such  a  migration  was  equal  to  that  which  actuated 
the  Pilgrims  of  two  centuries  before. 

Mrs.  Lucretia  Stipp,  is  a  woman  of  uncommon  intelli- 
gence  and  worth.      To   her   the  writer   has   been    greatly 


'SO 

indebted  for  many  facts  and  items,  regarding  the  early  re- 
latives who  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  many  years  ago.  She 
is  the  only  child  of  her  fathers'  family,  (Richard  Ellis  of 
Ellisburg,  Pa.)  now  living.  She  now  resides  at  Scio, 
Oregon.      Her  second  husband, 

Elder  John  Stipp,  was  ordained  in  May,  1853,  a  minister 
of  the  Old  School  Baptist  Church,  {not  Presbyterian  as 
stated  on  page  15.)  He  was  born  in  Berkley  Co.,  West 
Virginia,  Nov.  loth,  1806.  He  is  devoted  to  his  calling, 
and  is  still  traveling  over  the  country,  preaching  the  gospel 
at  his  advanced  age.  Of  their  children,  who  went  with  them 
in  their  western  journey,  but  one  of  his  and  one  of  his  wife's 
are  now  living.  They  are  most  worthy  people  entitled  to  a 
reward  of  everlasting  joy  in  the  life  to  come. 

(168.)  HARRY  ELLIS,  was  born  March  11,  1809  and 
died  at  Ellisburg,  Pa.,  Jan.  24th,  1885.  Early  in  life  with  his 
father,  Richard,  they  settled  in  what  is  now  Ellisburg,  Pa., 
when  that  country  was  a  wilderness.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
miller  and  a  very  industrious  and  worthy  man.  He  was  a 
Baptist  in  religious  belief.  For  three  or  four  years  previous 
to  his  decease  he  was  sick  and  helpless  from  age  and 
infirmities.  His  children  were  eight  in  number,  (see  Nos. 
552  to  563),  several  of  whom  resided  at  Ellisburg.    His  wife, 

(169.)  BETSY  SEELEY,  was  a  daughter  of  Mrs. 
Seeley,  the  last  wife  of  Dea.  Richard  Ellis  (29),  of  Ellisburg, 
Pa.  At  the  time  of  Mrs.  Ellis'  marriage.  May  1836,  to 
Harry  Ellis,  she  was  the  widow  of  Harry's  brother,  Reuben 
Ellis  (172),  by  whom  she  had  one  daughter,  Alvira  Ellis 
(566),  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Coats,  Esq.,  of  Ellisburg. 
Mrs.  Betsy  Ellis  was  a  very  worthy  woman  and  a  Baptist  in 
belief.  She  died  at  Ellisburg,  Jan.  i6th,  1885.  Her  brother, 
Lewis  Seeley,  now  lives  at  Ellisburg. 

"Uncle  Harry  and  Aunt  Betsy  Ellis,"  as  they  were 
called  by  friends  and  neighbors,  had  lived  in  Ellisburg  over 
fifty  years,  and  most  of  the  time  in  the  house  which  Harry 
and  his  father  built   when  they  first  settled  in  that  town. 


'51 

They  were  people  of  gentle  manners  and  great  kindness 
of  heart,  widely  known  and  greatly  beloved.  They  had  been 
married  nearly  fifty  years  and  died  but  eight  days  apart. 

(170.)  ELIZABETH  ELLIS,  born  March  22nd,  1811, 
married  Mr.  W.  M.  Chafee  and  lived  in  Mercer  Co.,  Pa., 
where  both  died  some  years  ago.  They  had  two  children. 
Mr.  John  Chafee,  of  Wellsboro,  Pa.,  is  her  grandson  and 
Mrs.  Seymour  D.  Ellis  (1059),  of  the  same  place,  a  grand- 
daughter. 

(172.)  REUBEN  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Richard, 
and  Chloe  Ellis,  of  EUisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  in  Delmar, 
Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  Feb.  15th,  1813.  May  pth,  1832,  he  married 
Betsy  Seeley  and  had  one  child,  Alvira  Ellis,  (see  566). 
About  this  time  Reuben  went  from  home  and  no  certain 
report  of  him  has  ever  been  had.  It  is  believed  that  he  died 
a  year  or  two  thereafter. 

All  these  Ellises,  of  Tioga  and  Potter  Counties,  Pa.,  like 
their  father  Dea.  Richard  Ellis,  were  ardent  and  prominent 
Baptists.  Three  of  them  were  ministers  of  that  faith  and  all 
were  noted  for  their  upright  lives  and  Christian  example. 
The  father  of  them,  Richard,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Mass., 
at  a  time  and  near  a  part  of  the  town  (Baptist  Corner) 
where  the  Baptist  faith  and  influence  greatly  predominated. 
This  religious  faith  still  prevails  with  nearly  all  his  descend- 
ants down  to  the  present  time.  An  account  of  Dea.  Richard 
Ellis'  and  his  children's  effort  to  establish  their  church  and 
promote  the  gospel  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century,  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 


Cliildren  of  Dea.   David  Hllis  Sr. ,  (32),  of  Sprlngrfleld,  £rle 

Co.,  Pa.,  and  ttaelr  "wives  and  husbands,  Grandchildren 

of  Reuben  (4),  and  Great-srandctaildren  of 

Richard  of  Ashfield.    F'rom  X74  to  182. 

(174.)  MELINDA  ELLIS,  eldest  child  of  Dea.  David 

Ellis,  and  his  wife  Sarah  Washburn  (33),  was  born  in  Ash- 
field, March  22nd,  1785.  She  married  Mr.  John  Wing, 
about  1810,  and  settled  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  soon  after.  Mr. 
Wing  died  in  1857,  and  his  wife  in  1862.     They  had  one  son 


152 

Mr.  Hamilton  Wing,  who   it   is   said  lived  in  Chillicothe, 
Ohio. 

(176.)  WILLIAM  ELLIS,  second  child  of  Dea.  David 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  March  28th,  1787.  He  lived  on 
the  farm  with  his  father  until  June  1818,  when  with  his 
family  and  parents  he  removed  to  Springfield,  Pa.  He  was 
a  Baptist  in  religious  belief,  and  of  unusual  piety  and  de- 
votion. He  was  a  tall  and  very  fine-looking  man,  and  like 
his  brother  David  Jr.,  was  fond  of  music.  They  both,  in 
early  life,  were  in  great  demand  at  "  musters,"  or  general 
trainings,  and  were  noted  for  their  skill  in  martial  music, 
when  one  played  on  the  fife,  and  the  other  the  drum. 
When  he  settled  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  the  country  was  new,  and 
he  purchased  a  farm  which  he  cleared  up  and  made  for  him- 
self and  family  a  comfortable  home.  About  1810  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Rhoda  Flower  of  Ashfield,  and  they  had  ten 
children  five  of  whom  were  born  in  Ashfield,  and  the  others 
in  North  Springfield,  Pa.  He  died  may  13th,  1873.  His 
wife, 

(177.)  RHODA  FLOWERS,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Sept. 
27th,  1789.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Lamrock  Flower 
Jr.,  and  granddaughter  of  Maj.  Lamrock  Flower  Sr.  These 
Flowers  lived  directly  opposite  the  residence  of  Lieut.  John 
Ellis  (15),  and  were  among  the  early  settlers  in  the  town. 
Mr.  Joshua  Hall  now  lives  on  that  farm  where  he  has  resid- 
ed over  thirty  years,  Mr.  Bildad  Flow^er,  son  of  Maj. 
Lamrock  Flower  Sr.,  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier  and  died 
in  the  service,  leaving  two  infant  daughters,  Ruth,  who  mar- 
ried Jesse  Ranney,  and  Amanda  (71),  who  married  Edward 
Ellis  (70).  Mr.  Horace  Flower  who  lived  near  Belding, 
Mich.,  several  years  previous  to  his  death  in  1874,  ^^^  ^ 
brother  of  Mrs.  Rhoda  Flower  Ellis  (177).  Horace's 
daughter  Louisa  married  Volney  Belding  (249),  and  now 
lives  at  Reeds,  Mo.  Her  brother  W.  H.  Flower  is  a  mer- 
chant in  Muir,  Mich.  Mrs.  Rhoda  F.  Ellis,  was  a  Baptist 
and  a  true  Christian  woman,  and  highly  respected  by  all  her 
acquaintances.       She  died  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  Aug.  26th, 


153 

1864.  Her  children  were  William  Jr.,  Charles  P.,  George, 
Harriet,  Lucretia,  Samuel,  James  F.,  Mary  L.,  Joseph,  and 
Rumina  Ellis.  See  Nos.  570  to  587.  Joseph  Ellis  now  lives 
on  the  old  farm. 

(178.)  SARAH  ELLIS,  third  child  of  David.  Sr.,  was 
bom  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  July  i8th,  1791.  She  was  married  in 
Ashfield,  July  5th,  1810,  to  Capt.  James  Flower,  of  Conway, 
and  soon  after  settled  in  Wesley ville,  Erie  County,  Pa., 
where  they  raised  nine  children.  She  died  Dec.  3rd,  1853. 
Her  husband, 

(179.)  CAPT.  JAMES  FLOWER,  was  born  in  Conway, 
Mass.,  Feb.  21st,  1781.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  died  in  Wesleyville,  Pa.,  Feb.  24th,  1832.  Their  children, 
all  born  in  Wesleyville,  were: 

Elbridge  G.,  born  Aug.  26th,  181 1,  died  March  17,  1832. 

Sally  H.,  born  Dec.  13th,  1813,  married  a  Potter,  and 
lived  in  Wesleyville,  Pa. 

David  Ellis  Flower,  born  March  6th,  1816,  lives  in 
Albion,  Pa. 

James  M.,  born  July  nth,  1818,  died  Aug.  3rd,  1819. 

Dr.  William  S.,  born  May  27th,  182 1,  is  a  physician  and 
lives  in  Cochranton,  Pa. 

Dr.  Clarissa  Ann,  bom  May  3rd,  1823,  married  Dr. 
Chauncy  Fuller,  of  Fredonia,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.Y.,  where 
she  now  lives  and  practices  medicine.  Her  husband  died 
in  1872. 

Melinda  Jane,  born  Dec.  9th,  1825,  married  Dr.  Daven- 
port, and  lives  in  Wesleyville.,  Pa. 

Lydia  W.,  born  April  i8th,  1828,  lives  in  Fredonia,  N.Y. 

Dr.  Phineas  D.,  born  May  13th,  1830,  married  and  lives 
in  Albion,  Pa.,  where  he  is  a  physician. 

James  G.,  born  April  1.7th,  1832,  married  in  Fredonia, 
and  lives  in  Jamestown,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 

(180.)  DAYIB  ELLIS  Jr.,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Dec. 
26th,  1793.  In  1818  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  and  his 
parents  and  brother  William  and  his  family,  they  removed  to 


154 

Erie  Co.,  Pa.  The  writer's  mother,  who  was  raised  in  Ash- 
field  and  is  now  8i  years  of  age,  well  remembers  when  these 
people  packed  their  worldly  goods  on  wagons,  and  with  ox 
and  horse  teams  wended  their  way  over  the  hills  of  their 
native  town,  to  seek  a  new  home  in  the  then  wilds  of 
western  Pennsylvania.  To  part  with  them  was  a  deep 
sorrow  to  those  who  remained,  but  the  universal  desire  of 
mankind  to  better  their  condition,  impelled  these  old  and 
respected  residents  to  make  the  change.  Others  followed 
their  example,  and  in  less  than  thirty  years  after,  there 
were  no  Ellises  remaining  in  that  town,  in  which  their 
ancestor  Richard  Ellis,  was  the  first  settler  in  1745,  and  in 
which,  for  just  a  century,  no  other  name  was  more  fa- 
miliar. David  Ellis  Jr.,  died  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  Feb.  21st, 
1866.  He  was  noted  as  an  upright  and  honorable  man. 
His  wife, 

(181.)  RUMINA  FLOWER,  was  born  in  Ashfield, 

1795,  and  died   in   Springfield,   Pa., 1872.      She   was 

a  sister  of  Rhoda  Flower  (177),  who  married  William 
Ellis.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
She  had  nine  children,  the  three  eldest  born  in  Ashfield,  the 
others  in  Springfield,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.     See  Nos.  598  to  611. 

(182.)  REBECCA  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  David 
Ellis  Sr.,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  May  loth,  1799.  She  re- 
moved to  Springfield,  Pa.,  where  she  married  Mr.  Jonathan 
Taylor,  and  settled  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  where  their  three 
children,  Phebe,  Sarah  and  Mary  Taylor  were  born. 


Clilldren  of  Jolin  Ellis  Jr.  (68),  of  Bflles,  Cayngra  Co.,  M.  V., 

and  tbeir  'wives  and   husbands.       Grandcbildren 

of  Jobn    Sr.,   and  Great-grandcblldren   of 

Rlcbard  Ellis  of  Asbfleld. 

(207.)  SYLVIA  ELLIS,  was  born  in  Niles  or  Sem- 
pronius,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.Y.,  Oct  7th,  1798.  In  the  spring  of 
1816,  she  was  married  in  Sempronius  to  Mr.  John  Sprague, 
and  the  next  year  moved  to  Perrysburg,  Cattaraugus  Co., 
N.  Y.      Mrs.  Sprague  died  at  Perrysburg,  in  Sept.   1837, 


155 
leaving  five  children.       Almerin,  Delilah,  Lodoska,  Dorliska 
and  Ebenezer. 

Almerin  Sprague  was  born  in  1818.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  settled  in  Genesee,  Waukesha  Co.,  Wis.  He  went  to 
California  in  1853,  where  he  died,  leaving  a  wife  and  five 
children  at  Genesee,  Wis. 

Delilah  Sprague,  born  Aug.,  1824,  married  for  her  second 
husband  George  Harrington.  She  is  now  a  widow  and  has 
five  children.     She  resides  at  Hayward,  Wis. 

Lodoska,  born  Feb.  i6th,  1827,  married  a  Mr.  Sullivan. 
She  is  now  a  widow,  and  lives  with  her  only  child  a  married 
daughter  in  Chicago,  111. 

Dorliska,  born  March,  1831,  married  William  Medbury, 
about  two  years  before  her  death  which  occurred  in  Feb., 
1852. 

Ebenezer,  born  Oct.  25th,  1883,  married  and  has  six 
children.  He  is  a  traveling  man  and  resides  in  St.  Louis, 
Mo. 

John  Sprague,  husband  of  Sylvia  Ellis,  was  born  in 
Luzerne,  Warren  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  20th,  1793.  He  was  a 
farmer.  He  died  April  i8th,  1875,  ^^  Cedar  Falls,  Dunn 
Co.,  Wis.  His  father  Ebenezer  Sprague,  was  born  in  1769, 
and  died  in  1877.  His  mother  Hannah  Martin,  was  born  in 
1768,  and  died  in  1875.  They  were  formerly  Baptists,  but 
in  their  old  age  they  became  Universalists.  John  and  Sylvia 
Ellis  Sprague  were  formerly  Baptists,  but  afterwards  be- 
came Universalists.  Mr.  Almerin  Sprague,  brother  of  John 
Sprague,  now  lives  at  Brodhead,  Wis.,  86  years  of  age. 

(209.)  AZEL  ELLIS,  was  born  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  Nov. 
25th,  1799.  At  about  25  years  of  age  he  married  Phebe 
McGee,  and  she  died  about  one  year  later.  October  30th, 
1828,  he  married  Mary  Hagerman,  who  was  born  in  New 
Jersey,  Oct.  23rd,  1795.  They  had  three  children,  Edward, 
Phebe  and  Lydia.  About  1841,  Mr.  Azel  Ellis  and  family 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Marseilles,  Wyandot  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  died  March  21st,  1863,  and  his  wife  Oct.  5th,  1859.      He 


156 

was  a  carpenter  and  builder,  and  an  upright  and  honorable 
man.     For  a  sketch  of  his  children  see  Nos.  621  to  623. 

(212.)  TAMER  ELLIS,  daughter  of  John  Ellis,  of 
Niles,  N.  Y.,  was  born  Aug.  i8th,  1802,  in  Niles.  May  8th, 
1827,  she  married  Matthew  Vanderbilt,  of  Sempronius, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  had  three  children,  Abilena,  Andrew  and 
Hannah.  About  1840,  Mr.  Vanderbilt  and  family  settled  in 
Marseilles,  Ohio,  on  a  farm  where  Mrs.  Vanderbilt  died  in 
1855,  and  Mr.  Vanderbilt  in  1877.     Of  their  children, 

Abilena,   born    Dec.    i8th,    1828,   married    Stewart    S. 
Adams.     They  lived  in  Marseilles,  Wyandot  Co.,  Ohio. 
Andrew,  was  bom  Nov.  22nd,  1832.     Lives  in  Marseilles. 

Hannah,  was  born  July  29th,  1838.  She  married  Mr.  R. 
L.  Willard,  and  they  live  in  Marseilles. 

(214.)  HIRAM  ELLIS,  son  of  John  and  Abilena 
Phillips  Ellis,  was  born  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  7th,  1804.  He 
married  Martha  Flower  in  1832,  and  they  raised  two  children. 
Hannah  and  Elisha,  both  born  in  Niles,  (see  627  and  629). 
Mr.  Ellis  was  a  thorough  bible  student,  and  of  remarkable 
memory.  He  was  radical  in  his  opposition  to  the  use  of 
tobacco,  (which  he  had  used  up  to  45  years  of  age,)  alcoholic 
liquors,  and  even  tea  and  coffee.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
benevolence  and  generosity,  and  contributed  largely  to  aid 
the  afflicted  and  suffering.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  the  last 
few  years  of  his  life  lived  in  Caton,  Steuben  Co.,  N.Y.,  where 
he  died  in  1874.  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^"  1864.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  a 
sister  of  Mrs.  Wade,  the  mother  of  Rev.  E.  R.  Wade,  of 
McLean,  N.  Y.  Elder  Wade  says  of  Mr.  Hiram  Ellis  that 
**  he  was  a  God-fearing  man,  and  as  honest  as  sunlight." 

(216.)  ELISHA  ELLIS,  son  of  John  Ellis,  was  born  in 
Niles,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  7th,  1805.  When  a  youth 
of  thirteen  years  he  went  with  his  uncle,  Elisha  Phillips, 
when  the  latter  with  his  family  removed  to  Mt.  Vernon, 
Posey  Co.,  Indiana,  on  the  Ohio  river,  in  the  extreme  south- 
western part  of  the  State.     They  went  down  the  Alleghany 


^57 

and  Ohio  rivers,  on  rafts  and  flat-boats  with  their  household 
goods,  and  settled  in  what  was  then  a  very  wild  country. 
When  Elisha  reached  manhood  (1828),  he  married  Miss 
Hannah  Bradley,  and  purchased  a  new  farm  at  Farmersville, 
Posey  Co.,  two  miles  north  of  Mt.  Vernon,  where  he  raised 
his  family,  and  where  himself  and  wife  now  reside,  at  an 
advanced  age  of  over  81  years.  When  he  first  saw  Mt. 
Vernon,  now  the  county  seat  of  Posey  Co.,  in  1818  it  had 
but  two  log  huts.  Now  it  has  a  population  of  6000.  In  his 
youth  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  cooper  and  carpenter.  When  21 
years  of  age  he  visited  his  old  home  and  parents  in  Niles, 
for  the  last  time.  In  1849,  when  the  "gold-fever"  broke  out 
in  California,  he  went  there  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  river, 
Isthmus  of  Panama,  which  latter  he  crossed  on  foot,  and 
sail  vessel  to  San  Francisco.  The  vessel  was  becalmed  and 
they  were  90  days  out  of  sight  of  land,  and  were  reduced  to 
exceedingly  low  rations  of  water  and  food.  He  remained 
in  California  about  one  year.  In  1827  he  was  appointed  a 
captain  in  the  State  militia,  and  held  the  commission  for  five 
years,  and  is  always  addressed  by  acquaintances  as  the  "Old 
Captain."  He  is  widely  known,  and  esteemed  as  an  upright, 
honorable  and  Christian  man  of  the  Universalist  faith. 

(218.)  RICHARD  ELLIS,  son  of  John,  of  Niles,  N.  Y., 
was  born  in  that  town  June  i6th,  1806.  November  6th,  1827, 
he  married  Mary  P.  Selover  of  Niles,  where  they  lived  un- 
til about  1836,  when  with  his  family  he  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Jackson,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio,  where  their  three  youngest 
children  were  born.  In  1849  Mr.  Ellis  went  to  California, 
and  on  his  way  home  he  stopped  at  his  brother  Ebenezer's, 
who  then  lived  at  Farmersville,  Ind.,  where  he  was  taken 
sick  and  died.     This  was  in  1853. 

(219.)  MARY  P.  SELOYER,  wife  of  Richard  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Niles  N.  Y.  She  was  the  youngest  daughter 
of  Isaac  Selover  of  Niles.  After  the  death  of  her  husband, 
she  removed  with  her  family  to  Marseilles,  Ohio,  where  she 
died  April  5th,  1884,  aged  75  years. 


158 

(220.)  HON.  PITTS  ELLIS,  son  of  John,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Murray,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  (where  his 
parents  lived  for  a  time,)  Feb.  29th,  1808.  He  received  a 
good  education  for  those  times,  and  in  early  life  was  a 
mechanic.  In  after  life  he  was  a  farmer,  and  dealer  in  cattle 
and  produce.  He  was  married  in  Perrysburg,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
23rd,  1832,  to  Miss  Lucia  M.  Balcom,  and  they  had  five 
children,  four  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  and  are  now  liv- 
ing. See  Nos.  651  to  657.  In  1841  he  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  the  settlement  of  Wisconsin.  He  located  at 
North  Prairie,  and  afterwards  at  Genesee,  Waukesha  Co. 
He  was  the  first  justice  of  that  town,  also  supervisor  and 
register  of  deeds  of  the  county.  He  was  elected  to  the 
territorial  legislature  in  1845,  and  in  1846  to  the  constitutional 
convention,  on  which  the  territory  was  admitted  as  a  state  to 
the  Union.  He  was  again  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in 
1850.  He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance,  and  the 
same  may  be  said  of  all  his  brothers  and  sisters.  He  was 
an  upright,  honorable  and  Christian  man.  He  died  in 
Genesee,  Wis.,  Feb.  ist,  1876.     His  wife, 

(221.)  LUCIA  M.  BALCOM,  wife  of  Mr.  Pitts  Ellis, 
was  born  Feb.  22nd,  1814,  in  Gorham,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y. 
She  joined  the  Baptist  church  at  14  years  of  age,  and  has 
always  been  a  member  of  a  church  since.  Since  the  death 
of  her  husband  she  has  lived  in  Milwaukee,  with  her 
daughter  Anna,  who  married  Lewis  Barling.  Mrs.  Ellis* 
parents  were  Dr.  Isaac  Balcom  and  Anna  Burr,  his  wife,  who 
settled  in  Perrysburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1821.  Mrs.  ElUs  and  her 
husband,  in  later  life  were  inclined  toward  the  Universalist 
church  in  their  religious  belief. 

(222.)  JOHN  J.  ELLIS,  son  of  John,  of  Niles,  N.  Y., 
was  born  in  Murray,  N.  Y.,  March  14th,  1810.  He  married 
Catharine  Selover,  about  1838,  and  they  have  raised  five 
children.     See  Nos.  659  to  667. 

Mr.  Elllis  and  his  wife,  reside  in  the  town  of  Sennett, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N,  Y.,  about  three  miles  from  Auburn,  where 


'59 

he  has  a  home  and  a  shop,  in  which  he  carries  on  the  busi- 
ness of  manufacturing  wagons  and  carriages.  He  is  quite  a 
mechanical  genius,  and  has  invented  several  very  useful 
implements.  He  is  widely  known  and  esteemed  as  an  up- 
right, honorable  and  Christian  man,  although  not  a  church 
member.  Mrs.  Catharine  Ellis,  was  born  in  Sempronius, 
July  1st,  1813. 

(225.)  BENJAMIN  ELLIS,  son  of  John,  of  Niles.  N. 
Y.,  was  born  in  Niles,  June  nth,  1813.*  He  married  Jemima 
Vanderbilt,  at  Niles,  Dec,  ist,  1839,  where  their  four  eldest 
children  were  born.  In  1850  he  settled  in  Wyandot  Co. 
Ohio,  on  a  farm.  He  died  March  i8th,  1881,  and  his  wife 
June  20th,  1883.  They  had  eight  children.  See  Nos.  669 
to  683. 

In  1856  Mr.  Ellis  left  his  farm,  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  in  Marseilles,  until  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
when  he  sold  out  and  enlisted  in  Co.  D.,  8ist  Ohio  Infantry 
Volunteers.  He  served  thirteen  months  when  he  was 
discharged  for  disability.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Pitts- 
burg Landing,  Shiloh  and  the  siege  of  Corinth.  After  his 
discharge  he  was  made  First  Lieut,  of  Co,  G.,  144  Reg.  of 
Ohio  National  Guards.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  en_ 
gaged  as  carpenter  and  builder.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual 
intelligence,  strictly  sober  and  temperate,  a  great  bible 
scholar,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  an  upright 
and  highly  respected  man. 

(227.)  EBENEZER  ELLIS,  was  born  in  Niles,  June 
i8th,  181 5.  At  22  years  of  age  he  left  New  York,  and  set- 
tled in  Farmersville,  Ind.,  where  he  married  Miss  Theodocia 
Phillips,  April  nth,  1839.  They  raised  six  children,  all  born 
in  Farmersville.  See  Nos.  685  to  695.  In  1859  he  removed 
to  Genesee,  Wis.  His  wife  and  himself  with  their  son  Pitts, 
now  reside  in  Arkansas  City,  Kansas. 

(229.)  RUTH  ELLIS,  youngest  daughter  of  John  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  March  24th,  1818.      She  married 

♦This  date  is  from  the  family  bible  of  his  parents  in  Niles.     His  children  in  Ohio,  have  re- 
cords giving  the  date  of  his  birth  as  iSio. 


i6o 

Mr.  George  Hall,  and  for  several  years  they  resided  in 
Richland,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.  Mr.  Hall  died  there  in 
1872.  Mrs.  Hall  still  lives  there  with  her  children.  The 
names  of  the  latter  were:  Maria,  Horace  and  Ahilena. 

(231.)  ANTHONY  W.  ELLIS,  youngest  son  of  John, 
and  Abilena  Phillips  Ellis,  was  born  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  Jan. 
6th,  1820,  where  he  now  resides  on  a  farm.  He  has  been  a 
farmer  all  his  life.  October  12th,  1843,  he  married  Miss 
Hannah  Van  Etten,  in  Niles,  and  they  have  raised  three 
children.     See  Nos.  708  to  713. 

In  the  old  age  of  his  parents  Mr.  Ellis  lived  with  them, 
and  from  the  old  family  bible,  and  other  sources  he  has  sent 
the  writer  family  records,  and  much  other  information  of 
value  in  compiling  this  book,  Mr.  Anthony  W.  Ellis  was 
the  youngest  of  his  parents'  large  family  (16  children)  and 
they  are  all  noted  for  being  men  and  women  of  the  strictest 
sobriety,  morality,  and  sound  religious  principles,  although 
not  all  of  the  so-called  orthodox  faith.  He  was  named  in 
honor  of  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  under  whom  his  father  was 
a  soldier,  and  for  whom  he  had  great  admiration. 


Clilldren  of  Ed'ward  Bills  (70),  of  Klles,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  V., 

and  tbelr  ijvlves.     Grandcblldren  of  L.ieut.  Jobn 

(15),  and  Rlcbard  Ellis  of  Asbfield. 

(232,)  HANNAH  YAN  ETTEN,  wife  of  Anthony  W. 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Owasco,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  13th, 
1826.  Her  parents  were  Anthony  Van  Etten  and  his  wife 
Jane  Cuykendall,  who  moved  from  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to 
Cayuga  Co.,  about  1820. 

(233.)  CYRUS  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Edward,  was 
born  at  Niles,  about  three  miles  north  of  Moravia,  Feb.  2d, 
1799.  When  two  years  of  age  his  father  died  and  his 
mother  (71)  returned  with  him  to  Ashfield,  where  Cyrus 
remained  most  of  the  time  with  his  grandfather,  John  (15), 


i6i 

and  his  uncle  Dimick  Ellis  until  he  became  of  age.  He 
then  went  out  to  Sempronius  or  Niles,  N.  Y.,  where  his 
mother,  after  her  second  marriage,  to  Rev.  Mr.  Forbush, 
was  living  on  the  homestead  which  Cyrus'  father  settled 
upon  in  1798.  Cyrus  soon  after  purchased  this  farm  of  his 
mother  and  here  he  made  his  home  for  the  remainder  of  his 
long  and  active  life.  March  31st,  1825,  he  married  Miss 
Clarissa  Birch,  who  was  his  faithful  companion  up  to  the 
time  of  her  death  in  the  autumn  of  1885,  a  period  of  over 
sixt)'^  years.  They  raised  a  family  of  nine  children,  six  sons 
and  three  daughters.     See  Nos.  715  to  731. 

Mr.  Cyrus  Ellis  was  a  man  of  very  radical  views.  He 
was  one  of  the  earliest  Abolitionists  of  this  country  and 
never  omitted  an  opportunity  to  aid  the  fugitive  slave  who 
was  trying  to  escape  from  the  bondage  of  the  southern 
master.  When  the  great  war  of  the  slaveholders'  Rebellion 
broke  out  in  1861  four  of  Mr.  Ellis'  sons  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army  to  aid  in  the  preservation  of  the  government.'^ 
Of  these  loyal  and  courageous  young  men  who  shouldered 
arms  with  the  sanction  and  blessings  of  fond  parents  three 
gave  up  their  lives  a  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  their  country, 
a  great  bereavement  to  their  loving  parents  but  the  latter, 
thus  deeply  stricken,  did  not  diminish  in  the  ardor  of  their 
patriotism.  It  was  just  such  heroism  as  this  of  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  noble  sires  and  sons  (and  mothers  and 
daughters  too)  which  carried  this  government  through  the 
awful  peril  of  the  Great  Rebellion  and  saved  it  from  per- 
ishing off  the  earth.  Their  achievements  demand  the 
gratitude  of   posterity  to  the  latest  generations. 

Mr.  Ellis  was  all  his  life  a  most  ardent  advocate  of  tem- 
perance and  opposed  the  liquor  traffic  in  every  form.  He 
was  a  man  of  good  mind  and  judgment  and  his  advice 
and  counsel  was  often  sought    by  his   neighbors   to   such 

*Mr.  Ellis  himself,  although  over  60  years  of  age,  such  was  his  patriotism  and  desire  to 
free  the  slave,  sought  to  enlist  as  a  soldier,  and  was  quite  indignant  when  it  was  intimated  that 
his  eye-sight  or  physical  powers  might  be  defective. 

Note.— On  the  preceding  page  (,160),  through  the  printer's  error  a  mistake  was  made  in 
misplacing  the  No.  (23a)  and  name  of  Hannah  Van  Etten.  She  is  the  wife  of  Anthony  W. 
Ellis,  and  was  not  one  of  the  "Children  of  Edward  Ellis,  etc.,"  and  her  name  should  be  above 
those  three  lines. 


l62 

an  extent  that  he  was  widely  known  and  respected  as  the 
"sage"  of  his  town.  He  was  a  small  man  of  great 
nervous  energy  and  activity  and  never  allowed  time  to 
waste  on  his  hands.  The  writer  remembers  his  visiting 
western  Michigan  in  the  summer  of  1848.  He  walked 
much  of  the  way  for  the  last  100  miles,  not  being  railroads 
there  at  that  time,  visited  four  families  of  relatives  near 
Belding,  and  was  on  his  way  home  the  same  day  of  his  ar- 
rival. He  never  "  set  around  "  but  "  made  ha}'^  "  whether 
the  sun  shone  or  not — traits  which  he  probably  derived 
mostly  from  his  mother,  (though  it  is  stated  as  a  fact  that 
his  father  died  at  the  early  age  of  28  years  from  overwork.) 
Unusual  economy  was  one  of  Cyrus'  leading  traits.  It  is 
told  that  when  a  boy  in  Ashfield  and  working  among  the 
thorns  and  briars  on  the  old  farm  of  his  grandfather  he 
would  often  remove  his  shoes  and  roll  up  his  pants  to 
preserve  them  from  wear  and  tear,  not  minding  the  injury 
inflicted  on  himself.  He  died  Nov.  19th,  1885,  in  his  86th 
year,  with  all  his  faculties  bright  until  near  his  end.  His 
memory  of  the  relatives  and  early  events  connected  with 
this  work  has  aided  the  writer  greatly  in  his  task.  His 
knowledge  of  the  olden  times  was  both  minute  and  exten- 
sive.    His  wife, 

(234.)  CLARISSA  BIRCH,  was  born  Jan.  30th,  1800, 
at  Argyle,  Washington  County,  N.  Y.  She  died  at  the 
homestead  Aug.  17th,  1885.  The  funeral  discourses  at 
the  burial  of  both  Mrs.  Ellis  and  her  husband  were 
preached  by  Elder  E.  R.  Wade  of  McLean,  N.  Y. 
Elder  Wade  for  his  first  wife,  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Forbush,  half  sister  of  Cyrus  Ellis,  (see  page  112.) 
He  was  intimately  acquainted  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis 
nearly  all  his  life  and  writes  that  he  had  for  them  the  high- 
est regard  and  esteem,  and  that  this  was  the  uniform 
opinion  of  all  who  knew  them.  Honesty,  integrity  and  vir- 
tue were  the  guiding  principles  which  ever  actuated  them. 
They  have  gone  to  the  reward  of  the  just,  and  their  mem- 
orv  should  be  cherished   forever. 


i63 

The  following  Is  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  Elder 
Wade's  written  soon  after  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Ellis  : 

"The  Book  says,  *  the  righteous  shall  be  in  everlasting 
remembrance.'  If  this  be  true,  a  word  in  remembrance 
of  the  noble  mother  who  was  consigned  to  the  grave  north 
of  Moravia,  last  Wednesday,  Aug.  19th,  will  not  be  out  of 
place. 

"  In  the  year  1825,  Cyrus  Ellis  and  Clarissa  Birch  were 
married,  and  in  a  log  house  north  of  the  hamlet  afterwards 
called  Pennyville  began  the  work  of  creating  a  good  farm 
and  a  nice  home,  from  the  domain  of  nature  around  them. 
How  well  they  succeeded  in  their  effort,  the  large  farm  and 
the  princely  residence  will  tell.  For  sixty  years  they  have 
resided  on  the  farm  where  they  commenced  married   life. 

"  With  them,  *  Life  was  real,  life  was  earnest,'  and  from 
early  morn  till  dewy  eve,  work  went  on  and  the  farm  and 
the  home  are  a  monument  of  their  joint  labors,  and  of  the 
children  that  came  to  them  as  the  years  rolled  on.  Not  a 
dollar  gained  by  speculation,  but  all  by  hard  and  honest 
toil. 

"  As  the  years  were  passing  nine  children  came  to  them 
in  the  old  log  house,  or  in  the  new  one,  that  burned  near 
where  the  present  residence  now  stands. 

"  Six  sons  and  three  daughters  found  a  home  with  them 
as  time  rolled  on.  With  all  the  care  of  farm,  home,  and 
children,  she  had  time  to  aid  and  care  for  the  sick,  and  to 
help  the  poor  and  needy. 

"  Her  ear  was  quick  to  hear  the  cry  of  the  sick  or  dy- 
ing and  all  homes  opened  at  her'approach,  as  did  the  ward 
gate  of  the  prison,  at  the  tread  of  the  God-fearing  apostles. 

"  Her  hand  was  light ;  her  presence  sweet  ;  and  her 
care  was  pleasant  in  the  sick  room.  She  always  had  time 
to  do  good  in  the  home  and  abroad.  Four  of  her  sons 
enlisted  and  rallied  at  the  call  of  country,  and  in  defense 
of  human  freedom.  Three  of  them  did  not  return  alive. 
With  the  grandeur  of  a  Roman  mother,  she  did  not  com- 


164 
plain.     She  had  laid  them  on  the  altar  of  her  country.     She 
could  not  visit  the  last  resting  places  of    her  dead,  where 
they  were  resting  among  the  "  Unknown  Dead." 

And   where   the   unknown   in   their  silence   are   sleeping, 
The   feet   of  the  angels  are  pressing   the   sod ; 

And   vespers   of  harmony  'round   them   are   keeping, 

While   Martyrs   of  Freedom,   have   gone   to   their   God. 

"  Mother  Ellis,  was  a  religious  woman  in  the  largest  and 
broadest  sense  of  the  word.  Her  religion  was  not  bigotry. 
She  was  at  home  among  all  Christians,  and  had  in  her 
heart  the  truth  that  all  who  loved  God  and  humanity  were 
children  of  one  God,  and  members  of  one  household, 
and  were  of  one  brotherhood.  This  she  saw  long  before 
the  great  world  of  religionists  saw  or  felt  it.  She  was 
in  her  religious  life  the  embodiment  of  the  great  truth 
voiced  by  Abraham  Lincoln  :  *  With  charity  for  all,  and 
malice  toward  none,'  and  her  life,  and  creed,  were  har- 
monious and  not  in  conflict. 

"She  was  as  kind  and  sweet  as  the  breezes  that  fan 
the  fields,  when  reapers  sing  among  the  garnered  grain. 
In  the  closing  hour  of  life,  when  her  sandals  were 
already  in  the  stream,  once  again  she  sang  one  of  the 
old  songs  of  triumph,  that  had  lived  in  her  heart,  and 
her  kind  and  loving  spirit  passed  on  to  the  great  land,  and 
home  of  the  hereafter.  Loved  but  not  lost  ;  gone  on 
to  the  higher  and  better  life. 

"The  funeral  was  held  at  her  late  residence  and  was 
attended  by  a  crowd  of  old  friends  and  neighbors. 

"  Cyrus  Ellis,  now  86  years  of  age  and  quite  feeble,  was 
able  to  sit  up  during  all  the  exercises.  All  the  remaining 
children,  five  in  number,  were  present,  and  all  reside  within 
a  distance  of  twelve  miles. 

"  One  by  one  the  old  residents  on  the  hill  where  I  was 
bom  are  called  home,  and  now  but  one  remains  in  that 
vicinity. 

"The  Fathers,  where  are  they  ?  and  the  Prophets,  do 
they  live  forever  ?  Edwin  R.  Wade." 


i65 

(235.)  HON.  EDWARD  D.  ELLIS,  youngest  son  of 
Edward  Ellis,  of  Niles,  N.  Y.,  was  born  in  Niles,  Oct.  7th, 
1801,  about  two  months  after  the  death  of  his  father.  His 
early  years  were  passed  on  the  farm  on  which  his  parents 
settled  when  they  removed  from  Ashfield  in  1798.  When 
a  young  man  he  was  put  to  service  with  a  tanner  with  a 
view  of  his  learning  that  trade.  This  occupation  soon 
proved  distasteful  to  him  and  feeling  a  strong  desire  to 
become  a  printer,  he  sought  and  obtained  a  position  in  a 
printing  office  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.  He  took  to  the  business 
readily  and  in  due  time  became  proficient  in  it.  When 
about  twenty  years  of  age  he  visited  his  grandparents  and 
other  relatives  in  Ashfield  and  from  there  went  to  Spring- 
field and  Boston,  Mass.,  where  he  worked  for  a  time  as  a 
journeyman  printer.  He  returned  by  way  of  New  York 
city,  Poughkeepsie  and  Cooperstown  to  his  home  in  Niles. 
During  this  trip  and  for  several  years  before  and  after  he 
kept  a  journal  in  which  is  recorded  his  doings  for  nearly 
every  day  with  comments  on  all  the  principal  events  of 
those  times.  In  this  way  he  became  a  close  observer  and 
a  ready  writer  on  political  and  other  topics.  He  anticipated, 
by  several  years,  that  famous  saying  of  Horace  Greeley, 
"  Go  West,  young  man"  and  purchased  an  outfit  for  a  print- 
ing office  and  started  for  Michigan.  He  landed  at  Mon- 
roe, where  he  opened  an  office  and  began  publishing  the 
"  Michigan  Sentinel,"  in  1825.  This  was  the  first  news- 
paper printed  in  the  territory  of  Michigan,  outside  of  De- 
troit. It  commanded  a  large  patronage  for  that  time  and 
brought  Mr.  Ellis  into  prominence  as  a  political  writer. 
The  leading  party  about  that  time,  or  soon  after,  was  the 
Democracy,  often  referred  to  in  the  present  time  as  the 
"Jacksonian  democracy,"  of  which  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson, 
(afterwards  President,)  was  the  leader.  Mr.  Ellis  was  an 
intelligent  and  enthusiastic  supporter  of  his  party  and  its 
successive  leaders  until  the  year  1847,  when  he  broke  loose 
from  it  on  account  of  its  secession  proclivities  and  its  sup- 
port of  slavery. 


i66 

Mr.  Ellis  was  several  times  elected  a  member  of  the 
territorial  and  state  legislatures  and  also  of  the  conven- 
ion  which  formed  the  constitution  on  which  Michigan  was 
admitted  into  the  union  of  states.  In  the  latter  he  proposed 
an  original  statute  which  was  adopted  and  ever  since  re- 
tained in  the  organic  law  of  the  state  (and  since  by  several 
other  states,)  that  money  paid  as  fines  for  crimes  and  mis- 
demeanors should  be  devoted  to  purchasing  and  sustaining 
public  libraries  in  every  town  and  city.  Mr.  Ellis  was  a 
ready  debater  and  withal  a  man  of  large  influence  in  the 
early  history  of  the  state  of  his  adoption.  About  1842,  he 
sold  his  interests  in  Monroe  and  removed  to  Detroit,  where 
he  continued  the  printing  business  and  publishing  of  the 
"  American  Vineyard,"  a  paper  which  he  started  in  the  lat- 
ter town.  In  the  political  campaign  of  1847  and  1848,  he 
took  strong  grounds  in  favor  of  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor,  the 
hero  of  the  Mexican  war,  for  president,  and  it  is  said 
that  he  was  the  first  publisher  of  a  newspaper  to  pro- 
pose Gen.  Taylor's  candidacy  for  that  high  office.  His 
efforts  in  his  cause  attracted  the  attention  of  Gen.  Taylor, 
and  the  latter  wrote  him  in  acknowledgment  and  appre- 
ciation of  the  same.  Just  before  the  meeting  of  the  nomi- 
nating convention  which  placed  Gen.  Taylor  before  the 
people  as  a  candidate,  Mr.  Ellis  was  taken  suddenly  sick 
and  died,  A  day  or  two  before  this  sad  event  he  over- 
exerted himself  at  a  fire  and  it  was  thought  that  some  in- 
ternal injury  had  been  received  which  accounted  for  his 
sudden  and  unexpected  demise,  which  was  a  great  shock  to 
his  family  and  numerous  friends. 

Mr.  Ellis  had  many  friends  among  the  older  residents 
of  Monroe  and  Detroit,  who  hold  his  memory  in  high  re- 
gard to  the  present  time.  His  paper,  the  "  Sentinel,"  was 
changed  in  name  to  the  "  Commercial"  and  for  the  past  35 
years  has  been  published  in  Monroe  by  Mr.  M.  D.  Hamil- 
ton and  Son,  and  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  journals  in 
the  state.     A  few  years  ago  Mr.  H.  printed  a  series  of   ar- 


167 
tides   found    among   the  unpublished   papers  of    Mr.  Ellis, 
which  attracted  considerable  attention  from  the   people  of 
Monroe  and  other  parts  of  the  state. 

Among  papers  and  letters  sent  the  writer  is  found  one 
from  Hon.  Wm,  Woodbridge,  one  of  the  early  Governors 
of  Michigan,  dated  Jan.  31,  1849,  and  which  contains  the 
following  :  "  I  was  long  and  intimately  acquainted  with 
the  late  Mr,  Edward  D.  Ellis  and  no  man  regretted  more 
sincerely  I  think  than  I  did  his  sudden  and  unexpected 
death.  To  a  mind  stored  with  much  and  varied  knowledge 
and  of  great  native  strength  and  energy  he  united  a  most 
amiable  and  generous  heart.  Strong  in  his  friendships  he 
was  still  more  inflexibly  firm  in  his  principles.  So  far  as 
my  long  acquaintance  with  him  enabled  me  to  judge  I  know 
of  no  man  more  confiding,  I  know  of  no  man  more  purely 
honest  than  was  he." 

In  all  respects  he  was  a  man  of  strict  sobriety,  integrit}- 
and  uprightness  in  all  his  conduct  and  his  memory  is  held 
in  high  esteem  by  all  who  had  the  honor  of  his  acquain- 
tance. He  was  a  small  sized  man,  nervous  temperament, 
with  dark  eyes  and  hair.  He  died  in  Detroit,  May  15,  1848. 
For  sketch  of  his  children  see  Nos.  733  to  740.  Feb.  2d, 
1830,  he  married 

(2S6.)  LEONORA  MARY  CHAPMAN,  in  Monroe, 
Mich.  She  was  born  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  March  25,  1805, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Asa  Chapman,  an  early  resident 
of  Buffalo.  Mr,  Chapman  was  a  millwright  and  built  a 
number  of  grist  and  saw  mills  in  New  York,  and  Ohio. 
When  a  young  woman  Miss  Chapman  and  a  younger  sister 
went  to  Kentucky,  where  they  became  teachers  in  families. 
Public  schools  were  then  unknown  in  that  section  and 
nearly  every  family  employed  teachers.  Miss  Leonora  was 
thus  engaged  for  several  years  in  the  family  of  Gen.  Gaines, 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Kentucky.  Most  of  the  people  in 
that  section  were  Roman  Catholics  in  religious  belief  and 
these  two  young  women  embraced  that  faith,  to  which  they 


i68 

ever  afterwards  adhered.  The  younger  one,  Permelia,  took 
ecclesiastical  "  vows,"  and  was  made  a  Sister  of  Charity  and 
Superior  of  St.  VincentV  Academy,  a  school  for  young 
ladies  at  Morgansfield,  Ky.,  at  the  head  of  which  she 
remained  during  her  life.  She  died  about  1850.  Another 
sister,  Eliza,  a  strong  Presbyterian,  married  Mr.  Drake. 
She  was  soon  left  a  widow  and  settled  with  her  two 
children,  a  son  and  daughter,  in  Farmington,  Mich.,  where 
she  lived  highly  respected  and  died  about  i860.  Her 
son,  Francis  M.  Drake,  died  at  the  same  place  about  1880, 
leaving  a  widow  and  eight  children,  three  of  whom 
have  recently  graduated  at  the  University  of  Michigan,  at 
Ann  Arbor.  Mrs.  F.  M.  Drake  and  one  daughter,  Mrs. 
Imogene  Brown,  now  live  in  Brighton,  Mich.,  and  Mrs.  Dr. 
Avery,  another  daughter,  in  Pontiac. 

Mrs.  Leonora  M.  Ellis  was  a  woman  of  superior  educa- 
tion and  culture.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  in  1848, 
she  resided  with  her  children  in  Chicago  and  Detroit,  the 
last  few  years  with  her  eldest  daughter,  Minerva,  in  Detroit, 
where  she  died  Aug.  26,  1870. 


Cblldren    of    Dea.    Dimicfe    HUls   (72),    and    tbeir   liust>aud 

and    -wives.     Grandcblldren  of  I«leat.  Jobn  (15), 

and  srreat-srrandclilldren  of  Rictiard 

Bills,  all  of  Asbfield. 

(237.)  DESIAH  ELLIS,  eldest  child  and  only  daugh- 
ter of  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Mass., 
Aug.  19th,  1803.  She  lived  with  her  parents  at  the  old 
homestead  until  her  marriage,  April  loth,  1828,  to  Mr. 
Tiberius  Belding,  of  Ashfield,  where  they  made  their  home 
about  80  rods  south  from  the  corner  where  Richard  Ellis 
made  the  first  settlement  in  that  town.  Here  six  of  their 
children  were  born.  In  the  autumn  of  1840  they  removed 
to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Otisco,  the  north-west  corner 
town  ot  Ionia  Co.  Their  home  was  one  and  one-half  miles 
west  of   what  is   now  the   flourishing  village   of   Belding. 


t6g 

They  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  that  township,  prob- 
ably not  over  a  dozen  families  preceding  them.  This  whole 
region  was  then  a  wilderness  and  quite  difficult  ot  access, 
no  railroads  being  nearer  than  Detroit,  which  was  140  miles 
distant.  But  this  was  a  beautifiil  country  and  settled  al- 
most wholly  by  intelligent  and  enterprising  emigrants  from 
Massachusetts  and  Central  New  York.  The  name  of  the 
town  was  given  by  settlers  fi-om  Otisco,  Onondago  county, 
N.  Y.  They  were  a  very  hospitable  people  and  any  settler 
was  known  to  and  considered  "a  neighbor"  of  all  the 
others  who  were  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  miles  distant. 
The  land  was  mosdy  open  "  plains"  and  was  quite  easily 
brought  under  cultivation.  The  willing  soil  yielded  an 
abundance  of  the  necessaries  of  subsistence  and  a  more 
cheerfiil,  contented  and  virtuous  people  than  these  settlers 
could  nowhere  be  found.  "  Aunt  Desiah,"  in  a  surpassing 
degree  had  the  love  and  esteem  of  every  one.  Her  house 
was  always  open  and  a  kindly  greeting  was  extended  to 
all.  Forty  rods  north  was  the  district  school-house  which 
served  also  as  the  meeting-house  for  many  years.  Al- 
though neither  herself  or  husband  were  church  members, 
the  "circuit"  ministers  of  all  denominations  went  straight 
to  her  home  and  always  were  welcomed  by  herself  and 
husband.  She  never  wearied  in  doing  good  to  everybody 
and  her  memory  should  endure  forever.  She  died  at  the 
homestead  Dec.  25th,  1880.     Her  husband, 

(238.)  TIBERIUS  BELDING,  was  born  in  Ashfield, 
Sept.  15th,  1800.  He  was  a  son  of  Mr.  John  Belding,  who 
lived  all  his  life  on  the  farm  where  Richard  Ellis  settled 
in  1745.  Tiberius  was  next  oldest  brother  of  Mr.  Hiram 
Belding,  who  settled  at  Belding,  Mich.,  (Otisco  township), 
about  1854. 

Mr.  Tiberius  Belding  was  a  man  of  uncommon  good 
sense,  generous,  upright,  industrious  and  respected.  It  re- 
quired all  these  traits  with  a  noble  ambition  which  he 
possessed  to  impel  one,  with  a  large  family,  to  brave  and 


170 

overcome  the  privations  of  a  new  country  such  as  was  this 
in  the  Forties.  He  died  in  Otisco,  Nov.  19th,  1870.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Belding  raised  eight  children  to  maturity.  These 
were  Annabel  P.,  born  1829;  Francis  W.,  1830;  Edward 
E.,  1832;  Priscilla  A.,  1834;  Tiberius,  jr.,  1838;  Waite, 
1840;  Ellen  M.,  1845,  and  John  D.,  1849. 

Annabel  Polly  Belding  was  born  in  Ashfield,  June  8th, 
1829.  She  married  Charles  F.  Morse  at  Otisco,  Feb.  4th, 
1849.  They  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  now 
living;  the  others  died  in  infancy.  About  1870,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Morse  moved  from  Otisco  to  Milo,  Lincoln  Co.,  Kan- 
sas, where  they  settled  on  a  farm.  Mr.  Morse  died  at 
Milo,  July  1 2th,  1884.  ^^  ^^^  ^°^"  ^"  Homer,  Courtland 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  9th,  1820.  He  and  his  brother,  Hon.  John 
L.  Morse,  were  of  the  first  settlers  in  Otisco  about  1837. 
Mrs.  Annable  P.  Morse  resides  in  Milo,  with  her  children. 
Her  son,  Charles  Lee  Morse,  born  1851,  married  Phoebe 
Early  of  Simpson,  Kansas,  in  1885.  Lewis  Ellis  Morse, 
born  1858,  lives  in  Milo,  Kansas,  and  has  two  children. 
Fred  Morse  born  1861,  also  lives  in  Kansas.  Nellie  Desiah 
Morse  born  1864,  is  a  school  teacher  near  her  mother's 
home  in  Kansas. 

Francis  W.  Belding,  born  Oct.  28th,  1830,  married  Miss 
Julia  Day,  daughter  of  Daniel  Day,  Esq.,  of  Otisco.  He 
settled  on  a  farm  two  miles  west  of  Otisco  Center,  where  his 
widow  and  children  now  live.  He  died  March  6th,  1879, 
after  a  long  and  painful  illness.  He  was  a  man  of  uncom- 
mon intelligence  and  industry  and  was  held  in  high  esteem 
by  all  who  ever  knew  him.  His  children  are  Edward  E., 
Ralph,  Blanche,  Grace  and  Pearl.  They  have  an  excellent 
farm  and  beautiful  home. 

Edward  Ellis  Belding  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Dec.  2d, 
1832.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Rebellion  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany B,  i6th  Michigan  Volunteers,  and  was  in  the  seven 
days  battle  before  Richmond  in  1862.  He  died  at  Harri- 
son's  Landing,  Va.,  July  15th,  1862,  from  sickness  brought 


171 

on  by  exposure  and  fatigue  incident  to  the  campaign  after 
twelve  months  of  active  service.  One  of  his  comrades, 
now  the  Hon.  A.  B.  Morse,*  Chief  Justice  of  the  State  of 
•Michigan,  wrote  the  following  lines: 

Lines  on  the  Death  of  Edward  E.   Belding,  Company  B,  i6th 
Michigan    Volunteers. 

Died  at   Harrison's   Landing,  Va.,  July  13th,    1862. 


Another   form   has   passed   away 

Another   heart   is   cold  ; 
Beneath   the   earth    we    laid   to-day, 

A   soldier  true  and   bold. 
And   sadly   have   we,   comrades   all, 

Around   his   lonely  grave, 
With   tears   our   silent   tribute    paid 

A  noble   soul   and    brave. 

Among   the    first   he   left   his   home 

And    friends   at    Duty's   call, 
His   Country's   honor   to   maintain. 

With    her   to   stand   or   fall. 
And  twelve  long  months,  through  hardships  dire, 

A   soldier's   armor  wore — 
The   toilsome    march,    the  wet   bivouac 
^  He  proudly,    calmly   bore. 

Fatigue   and   cold,    the   burning  heat 

His   soul    could    never   tire ; 
No   danger   great,   no   duty   chilled, 

That   heart   of  patriot    fire  ; 
And   ever   in    the   battle    front 

On    Gaines's   bloody    field. 
His   manly  form   the    foremost   was 

Among   the   last    to   yield. 

♦Allen  Benton  Morse  was  bom  in  1837  and  was  the  first  white  male  child  born  in  Otisco 
He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Hon.  John  L.  Morse,  whose  farm  and  house  joined  Mr.  Tiberius 
Belding's  on  the  south.  He  enlisted  in  the  same  company  with  Edward  E.  Belding,  with 
whom  he  had  been  acquainted  from  his  childhood.  Young  Morse  was  promoted  to  a  licu- 
tenantcy  and  adjutant  and  served  through  the  war.  After  the  close  of  the  Rebellion  he  prac- 
ticed law  in  Ionia,  Mich.,  until  the  spring  of  1885,  when  he  was  elected  Chief  Justice  of  Michi- 
gan over  Chief  Justice  Cooley,  one  of  the  most  noted  public  men  in  this  State,  by  the  aston- 
ishing majority  of  over  32,000  votes.  Judge  Morse  has  literary  and  judicial  ability  of  a  high 
order. 


172 

The  fearful  days  and   sleepless   nights, 

That  marked   our   "  change   of  base. 
The  hurried   march,    the  desperate   fight 

Found   Belding   in   his  place. 
And  when   fatigue   brought   on   disease, 

And   quick  and   fevered    breath ; 
He   suffered   pain  without   complaint 

And   calmly   waited    Death. 

Here,   Edward,    may   thou   sleep   in   peace. 

This  noble   oak  beneath, 
Where  loving  comrades   made   thy  bed. 

And  wove   the   laurel  wreath. 
May  holly  wave   and   wild   rose   bloom 

Above   thy   resting   place, 
As  long   as  yonder  noble   stream 

Its  silvered   course   shall   trace. 

And  may   no   coward    traitor's  hand 

Disturb   thy   quiet  grave  ; 
Oh,    God   of   right    and   truth   protect 

The   bones   of  lifeless   brave ; 
In  life   thy   soul   they   could   not   daunt, 

la  death   it  soars  above. 
And  dwells  with  heroes   of  the  past, 

In   realms   of  endless  love. 

At  home,   the   ones   that  loved    him   well, 

Kind    friends   and  parents   dear, 
Will  sadly  miss  his  cheerful   face. 

And  weep   the  bitter   tear. 
And   mem'ry  will   thy  worth   engrave. 

In   every  comrade's   mind. 
Of  one   who   dared    to  do   and   die, 

A   faithful  friend  and  kind. 

A.    B.    MORSB. 
JaaiM  River,   Va.,  July  i8th,    1863. 

Priscilla  A.  Belding,  second  daughter  of  Tiberius  and 
Desiah  Ellis  Belding,  was  born  at  Ashfield,  Sept.  28th, 
1834.  She  married  Aug,  9th,  1857,  Mr.  John  D.  Snyder 
of  Otisco,  who  lived  for  several  years  fifty  rods  north  of 
Mr.  Tiberius  Belding.  Soon  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
Snyder  and  wife  settled  on  a  farm  three  miles  north  of 
Ionia,  where  they  raised  their  family  of  five  children. 
On  March  27th,  1884,  Mrs.  Snyder  and  her  two  daughters 


173 
visited   Ionia  and    in    returning   home  in    the  evening   the 
horse  became  frightened  and  ran  away,  throwing  out  the 
occupants.       Mrs.    Snyder,  was    instantly   killed    but    her 
daughters  escaped  serious  injury. 

Tiberius  Belding,  Jr.,  was  born  at  Ashfield,  Sept.  2d, 
1838.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  King  of  Orleans,  Mich.,  in 
1862,  and  have  one  daughter,  Bertha  Desiah.  Mr.  Belding 
was  a  farmer  three  miles  east  of  Greenville,  Mich.,  for 
several  years.  About  1880,  he  removed  to  Groton,  Brown 
county,  Dakota,  where  he  is  extensively  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  hotel  keeping. 

Waite  Belding  was  born  in  Ashfield,  April  25th,  1840, 
and  was  six  months  old  when  his  parents  settled  in  Otisco. 
He  has  been  an  invalid  most  of  his  life  and  resides  with 
his  sisters,  Ellen  and  Mrs.  Snyder,  previous  to  the  death 
of  the  latter. 

Ellen  M.  Belding  was  born  in  Otisco,  July  7th,  1845. 
She  married  Mr.  James  Granger  and  they  have  three 
children,  Frank,  Carl  and  Glenn.  They  live  on  the  home- 
stead of  Mrs.  Granger's  parents. 

John  Dimick  Belding  was  born  in  Otisco,  Nov.  i8th, 
1849.  He  married  Miss  Amelia  Deitz,  whose  parents  lived 
at  Otisco  corners,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  the 
Belding  home.  They  have  one  daughter,  Grace,  and  live 
in  or  near  Groton,  Dakota. 

All  these  children  and  grandchildren  of  Desiah  Ellis  and 
Tiberius  Belding,  Sr.,  were  and  are  sober,  upright,  indus- 
trious and  highly  respected  and  hold  in  high  regard  the 
memory  of  their  devoted  parents. 

(239.)  I)EA.  RICHARD  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Dim- 
ick and  Polly  Annable  Ellis,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  March 
20th,  1805.  He  lived  at  home  until  his  majority  when  he 
took  a  trip  through  Vermont  and  northern  and  central  New 
York.  He  settled  at  Pittstown,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y., 
about  1826,  where  he  engaged  in  the  coopering  business. 
On    "Thanksgiving    Day,"   in    November,    1827,  he   was 


174 
married  to  Miss  Hannah  Ranney  of  Ashfield.  They  at 
once  took  up  their  home  at  Pittstown,  two  miles  east  of  the 
town  "  corners,"  at  what  is  now  Boyntonville  P.  O.,  named 
in  honor  of  Mr.  Wm.  Boynton,  now  a  leading  citizen  there 
who  was  born  about  1830.  Dea.  Ellis  lived  here  until  his 
removal  to  Michigan  in  1844.  He  was  largely  engaged  in 
coopering,  employing  many  hands  for  several  years  manu- 
facturing barrels  for  market  at  Troy,  15  miles  distant. 
About  1840  he  took  a  leading  part  in  organizing  the  Chris- 
tian church  there  and  erecting  a  meeting-house.  May  ist, 
1844,  he  started  with  his  family,  wife  and  two  children,  for 
Otisco,  Mich,  where  his  sister,  Desiah  (237)  had  settled  in 
1840  and  his  brother  Lewis  (241)  in  1842.  They  went  up 
the  Erie  canal  to  Bufialo,  by  steamboat  to  Detroit  and 
thence  with  ox  teams  to  Otisco,  140  miles  northwesterly 
from  Detroit.  They  reached  their  new  home  after  a  jour- 
ney of  21  days.  The  same  trip  can  now  be  made  in  24 
hours.  Dea.  Ellis  purchased  about  200  acres  of  new  land 
and  began  its  improvement.  His  farm  is  on  the  north  side 
of  Flat  River,  a  part  of  which  is  now  in  the  thriving  vil- 
lage of  Belding. 

In  1844  this  was  a  wild  country,  with  deer,  bears  and 
Indians  numerous.  Dea.  Ellis  was  a  man  of  delicate  health 
all  his  life  but  with  industry,  perseverance  and  good  man- 
agement he  made  for  himself  and  family  a  good  home. 
Soon  after  locating  in  Otisco,  he  began  the  organization  of 
a  Christian  church  in  connection  with  Rev.  Wilson  Mosher 
who,  about  that  time,  together  with  eight  or  ten  fami- 
lies from  Pittstown,  had  located  there.  This  church  was 
the  principal  one  in  that  part  of  the  town  for  many  years 
and  about  1870  a  commodious  church  building  was  erected 
at  Belding.  Dea.  Ellis  took  great  interest  in  his  church 
and  was  a  most  exemplary  member  thereof.  For  eighteen 
years  he  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  in  which  official  position 
he  settled  many  difficulties  with  contentious  parties,  with 
seldom  a  lawsuit,  and  it  is  said  that  he  never  had  a  lawsuit 


175 
of  his  own.     He  was  a  man  of    uncommon    public  spirit, 
always  aiding  every  enterprise  which  tended  to  benefit  his 
town  and  its  people. 

Dea.  Ellis  was  reared  in  Ashfield,  in  the  midst  of  strong 
Baptist  influences  and  was  from  early  years  of  decided  re- 
ligious inclinations,  but  his  independence  of  thought  led 
him  to  reject  much  of  the  Calvinistic  doctrines  of  his  early 
teachings.  About  1835,  he  embraced  the  doctrines  of  the 
Christian  denomination,  to  which  he  devotedly  adhered  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  and  it  is  but  truth  to  say  that  his 
was  the  leading  spirit  in  that  church  both  in  Pittstown  and 
Belding,  in  which  his  time,  labor,  counsel  and  money  were 
ever  freely  given.  In  every  relation  of  life  his  example 
was  a  model  for  others.  No  unjust  act  was  ever  attributed 
to  him.  He  lived  without  an  enemy  and  died  regretted 
by  all  who  knew  him.  He  died  March  26th,  1878. 
His  wife, 

(240.)  HANNAH  RANNEY,  was  born  in  Ashfield, 
Dec.  15th,  1805.  She  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Ruth  Flower  Ranney,  old  residents  of  that  town.  When 
Hannah  was  13  years  of  age,  her  father  purchased  the 
farm  and  home  of  David  Ellis,  Sr.,  (32)  which  is  about 
one-half  mile  east  of  the  corner,  where  old  Richard  (Da- 
vid's grandfather)  made  the  first  settlement  in  the  town. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  the  Ranneys  were 
numerous  in  Ashfield,  they  having  come  there  from  Con- 
necticut about  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Mr, 
George  Ranney  (Hannah's  grandfather)  had  a  large  family 
of  children  in  Ashfield,  and  one  of  his  grandsons,  Henry 
S.  Ranney,  Esq.,  a  cousin  of  Hannah,  is  now  and  has  been 
for  over  40  years,  the  town  clerk.  The  latter  has  aided 
the  writer  greatly  in  procuring  statistics  and  gathering 
items  of  interest,  regarding  the  early  history  of  the  town, 
for  this  book.  In  the  Appendix  will  be  found  much  of  this 
nature,  with  a  sketch  of  the  Ranneys  from  the  time  of  their 
early  settlement  in  America, 


176 

Mrs.  Hannah  Ranney  Ellis  now  resides  on  the  home- 
stead with  her  eldest  son  Dimick,  (749)  where  herself,  hus- 
band and  two  sons  located  in  1844.  She  has  in  a  high 
degree  the  vigorous  constitution  of  her  New  England  pro- 
genitors and  withal  an  excellent  memory  which  has  greatly 
aided  the  writer,  her  youngest  son,  in  compiling  this  book. 
She  has  for  over  50  years  been  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Christian  church. 

(241,)  LEWIS  ELLIS,  third  child  of  Dea.  Dimick 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Sept.  27th,  181 1.  He  was 
brought  up  on  the  farm  with  his  father  and  grandfather, 
John  (15),  on  which  he  lived  until  his  removal  to  Michigan, 
in  1842.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  on  the  old  homestead 
with  his  parents.  October  22d,  1834,  ^^  ^^^  married  to 
Miss  Louisa  Wilson  of  Ashfield.  They  have  had  eight 
children,  all  of  whom,  except  the  two  youngest,  Geo.  W. 
(755)  ^"^  Mary  L.  (757),  died  in  infancy  or  early  youth. 
The  sterilty  of  the  soil  and  frigidity  of  the  climate  of 
western  Massachusetts,  finally  induced  Mr.  Ellis  to  seek 
a  new  location.  About  that  time  many  New  England 
people  were  emigrating  to  Michigan,  and  several  from 
Ashfield  had  settled  in  Otisco,  and  in  the  opening  of  1842 
Mr.  Ellis  with  his  family,  then  consisting  of  his  wife  and 
two  children,  started  for  the  latter  place,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  large  farm  on  the  north  side  of  Flat  River, 
opposite  the  present  village  of  Belding,  and  adjoining  his 
brother  Richard  on  the  east.  Here  he  made  for  himself 
and  family  an  elegant  home  and  is  now  in  his  old  age 
surrounded  with  every  comfort.  When  he  located  there 
the  country  was  new  and  there  were  not  more  than  a  dozen 
families  in  the  town.  The  nearest  market  was  Grand 
Rapids,  30  miles  distant.  For  ten  or  twelve  years  wheat 
and  surplus  grain  was  drawn  by  teams  to  that  place  for 
sale.  Prices  were  low  for  their  productions,  and  high  for 
all  they  purchased,  and  money  was  scarce.  But  it  may 
be  said  that  the  best  of  lumber  was  abundant  and  cheap. 
Six  miles  to  the  north  were  the  great  pine  districts,  which 


177 

gave  to  this  part  of  the  State  great  advantages  over  central 
and  even  southern  Michigan.  For  many  years  the  best  of 
pine  lumber  could  be  had  for  four  dollars  per  thousand  feet, 
payable  in  hay  and  coarse  grains,  so  that  about  all  the  ready 
money  which  was  required  for  building  purposes  was  what 
was  paid  for  nails  and  glass.  Long  after  the  latter  sections 
had  to  depend  upon  rude  logs  for  houses  and  barns  the 
former  was  well  supplied  with  comfortable  and  often  elegant 
houses  and  other  buildings,  and  Otisco  has  long  stood  in 
the  front  rank  of  Michigan  towns  for  wealth,  intelligence 
and  general  prosperity,  and  Belding  is  a  thriving  place 
and  an  important  station  on  the  Detroit,  Lansing  &  Northern 
Railroad  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  town  of  Otisco. 

Mr.  Ellis  although  not  a  church  member,  is  a  Univer- 
salist  so  far  as  regards  a  belief  in  the  elevation  of  man 
in  this  world  and  his  final  salvation  in  the  next.  He  is  a 
man  of  large  influence  and  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  the  politics  and  general  welfare  of  his  town 
and  county,  but  has  never  sought  official  position  himself. 

(242.)  LOUISA  WILSON,  wife  of  Lewis  Ellis  of 
Otisco,  (Belding  P.  O.)  was  born  in  Shelburn,  Mass.,  Nov. 
3rd,  181 2.  When  about  17  years  of  age  her  widowed  mother 
(see  page  116)  married  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis  and  she  removed 
to  Ashfield.  After  Louisa's  marriage  to  Mr.  Lewis  Ellis 
their  parents  lived  with  them  in  Ashfield  and  followed 
them  to  Belding  in  1846,  where  they  passed  the  remainder 
of  their  earthly  days  with  them  in  the  quiet  contentment 
of  a  serene  and  happy  old  age.  Mrs.  Louisa  W.  Ellis  is 
a  Baptist  in  religious  belief,  and  is  a  most  devoted  wife 
and  mother,  and  grandmother  too. 

(243.)  DR.  JOHN  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Dimick 
and  Polly  Annable  Ellis,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Nov.  26th, 
1815.  During  his  youth  he  worked  on  the  farm  and  attended 
the  district  school  and  later  the  academy  at  Shelburne  Falls, 
and  the  Sanderson  Academy  on  the  "Plain,"  as  Ashfield 
Center  was  called,  about  one  and  one-half  miles  from  the 
Ellis  home.  He  was  always  of  a  very  studious  turn  of  mind 
and   early  determined    to   study  medicine   and   become    a 


X78 

physician.  He  had  a  decided  mechanical  gift  and  learned 
dentistry,  which  he  practiced  during  his  studentship  to  obtain 
means  to  enable  him  to  attend  college.  With  this  view  he 
took  a  trip  through  some  of  the  Southern  States,  returning 
from  Central  Alabama  on  horseback,  stopping  here  and 
there  for  a  time  to  work  at  his  business.  This  was  about 
1840  to  1841.  Before  this,  and  on  his  return  he  attended 
medical  college  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  where  he  graduated  in 
the  fall  of  1842.  After  this  he  attended  the  medical  college 
at  Albany,  N.  Y.  Dr.  Ellis  began  practice  in  Chesterfield, 
Mass.,  where  he  married  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Coit,  his  first 
wife.  After  about  one  year  he  removed  to  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.  Here  he  remained  about  two  years;  and  during  this 
period  he  began  to  investigate  the  homeopathic  method  of 
treating  diseases,  and  at  its  end  he  spent  a  winter  in  New 
York  City,  attending  lectures  and  visiting  physicians,  and  on 
his  return  to  Michigan  in  the  spring  he  settled  in  Detroit, 
and  opened  an  office  as  a  homeopathic  physician  in  connec- 
tion with  Dr.  P.  M.  Wheaton,  who  died  of  the  cholera  at  Cin- 
cinnati in  1849  or  1850.  He  purchased  books  and  medicines 
for  the  purpose  of  investigating  homeopathy  while  in  Grand 
Rapids  and  began  their  use.  He  was  surprised  and  pleased 
at  the  results  obtained.  He  located  in  Detroit  in  1846,  where 
he  practiced  until  1861,  when  he  settled  in  New  York 
City,  where  he  now  resides.  He  and  Dr.  Wheaton  were 
the  first  homeopathic  physicians  in  Detroit,  and  among  the 
first  in  the  State.  He  acquired  a  large  patronage  and  held 
the  confidence  of  the  people  in  a  very  high  degree.  For 
professional  knowledge  and  skill  he  was  regarded  by  his 
patrons  as  without  a  superior. 

Dr.  Ellis  in  his  early  practice  was  a  surgeon  of  rare  skill. 
In  1845  he  made  the  first  successful  operation  of  the  kind 
then  on  record  of  tying  both  carotid  arteries,  at  an  interval 
of  only  about  four  days,  in  the  neck  of  a  man  who  was 
slowly  bleeding  to  death  from  a  gun-shot  wound  through 
the  neck.  He  lectured  six  years  in  the  Homeopathic 
Medical  College  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  just  before  the  Rebel- 
lion, and  was  often  called  by  the  regular  surgeon  to  assist 
him  in  difficult  operations.     He  also  was  Professor  of  the 


'79 
Theory  and  Practice  of  Medicine  for  two  years  in  the  New 
York  Homeopathic  Medical  College.  The  beginning  of  his 
practice  was  before  the  discovery  of  chloroform  and  the 
unavoidable  suffering  consequent  on  surgical  operations,  and 
the  infinitely  more  mild  and  satisfactory  practice  of  medicine 
on  the  homeopathic  principle  gradually  led  him  to  mainly 
withdraw  from  the  former  in  favor  of  the  latter  practice. 
For  the  last  fifteen  years  he  has  almost  wholly  given  his  time 
to  the  oil  business,  but  has  written  much  upon  medical  and 
theological  subjects.  Although  a  medium  sized  man,  a  firm 
of  hatters  in  Detroit  said  he  had  one  of  the  largest  heads  in 
Michigan.  His  general  culture  and  qualities  of  heart  are  no 
less  ample.  He  is  a  man  of  few  words,  unusual  modesty, 
quiet,  gentle  and  amiable  disposition,  but  in  a  discussion  he  is 
prepared  to  go  to  an  exhaustive  degree  to  sustain  his  point. 
Both  in  medicine  and  theology  he  is  well  informed  and  thor- 
oughly grounded  in  his  principles.  He  has  been  a  religious 
man  and  for  nearly  40  years  a  member  of  the  New  Jeru- 
salem Church  (commonly  called  Swedenborgian)  to  which 
he  devotes  a  small  portion  of  his  time,  labor  and  income  in 
propagating  its  doctrines.  At  his  own  expense  he  has 
written,  printed,  and  circulated  gratuitously,  to  the  clergy  of 
the  United  States  and  Canada,  over  60,000  copies  of  an 
"Address  to  the  Clergy,"  of  24  pages ;  and  an  equal  number 
of  a  work  of  260  pages  on  "  Skepticism  and  Divine  Reve- 
lation," and  also  a  pamphlet  of  52  pages  on  the  "  Deteriora- 
tion of  the  Puritan  Stock."  These  three  works  have  been 
sent  to  every  clergyman  of  every  denomination  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada  whose  name  could  be  obtained. 
One  of  his  late  publications  is  a  work  of  over  700  pages 
condemning  the  use  of  fermented  wine  as  a  beverage,  or  for 
sacramental  purposes,  as  being  unsafe  and  unscriptural.  A 
number  of  ministers  attacked  him  for  this,  but  good  judges 
concede  that  he  has  the  best  of  the  argument.  The  silence 
of  his  opponents  seems  to  confirm  this,  which  shows  pru- 
dence on  their  part  even  if  they  are  not  convinced,  for  Dr. 
Ellis  when  he  is  sure  that  he  is  right  never  gives  up  in  any- 
thing he  undertakes.  His  principles  2iX^fixed^  and  in  religion, 
temperance  and  medicine,  which  so  vitally  affect  mankind, 
he  is  inflexible. 


i8o 

Some  years  ago  Dr.  Ellis  published  a  volume  on  the 
"  Avoidable  Causes  of  Disease "  and  another  on  "  Family 
Homeopathy."  These  books  have  had  a  large  sale  and 
are  works  of  a  high  order  of  merit. 

While  residing  in  Detroit,  Dr.  Ellis  invested  consider- 
able money  in  lands,  mines  and  stocks.  The  lands  proved 
good  investments,  but  the  mines  and  stocks  were  a  failure. 

While  engaged  in  practicing  medicine  in  New  York  he 
took  an  interest  in  an  oil  refinery  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y. ;  and 
finally  invented  a  new  process  of  refining  petroleum,  and  in 
connection  with  the  President  of  the  Company,  he  obtained 
two  patents  for  the  same;  but  the  refinery,  entrusted  to  the 
care  of  others,  did  not  prove  a  financial  success;  but  his  son, 
Mr.  W.  D.  Ellis,  and  Mr.  T.  M.  Leonard,  nephew  of  his 
wife,  commenced  selling  the  oils  in  New  York.  In  1874,  ^" 
connection  with  his  son  and  Mr.  Leonard,  he  started  a 
refinery  in  Brooklyn,  with  his  improved  process  for  refining 
oil  for  lubricating  purposes;  he  attending  to  the  manufactur- 
ing department  of  the  business,  while  his  son  and  nephew 
attended  to  the  selling  of  the  products.  The  business  pros- 
pered and  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  in  1881  they  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land  at  Edge  water.  New  Jersey,  on 
the  Hudson  River,  across  from  New  York  City  and  about 
opposite  117th  street,  where  they  constructed  one  of  the 
finest  oil  refineries  in  the  world.  From  small  beginnings, 
about  fifteen  years  ago,  this  business  has  grown  to  large 
proportions  with  demands  for  their  oil,  and  depots  for  its 
sale,  in  every  part  of  the  globe.  It  is  Dr.  Ellis'  characteristic 
to  have  whatever  he  produces  first  quality^  and  it  is  this, 
together  with  the  strenuous  efforts  of  his  son  and  partner  to 
push  its  sale  far  and  wide,  which  has  brought  their  "  valvo- 
line,"  for  oiling  machinery,  into  such  extensive  demand. 

The  likeness  of  Dr.  Ellis,  on  opposite  page,  was  copied 
from  a  photograph  taken  in  1865  when  he  was  about  50 
years  of  age.  He  is  now  in  his  seventj^-second  year,  not 
robust  but  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health,  resulting 
mainly,  from  the  simplicity  and  strict  sobriety  of  his  life. 
He  is  said  to  resemble  his  grandfather,  John  (15),  in  mental 
and  physical  characteristics.  Dr.  Ellis  has  had  five  children, 
only  one  of  whom,  Wilbur  D.,  is  now  living.  For  sketch 
of  the  latter  see  No.  760. 


(243)    JOHN  ELLIS,  M.  D. 

or  NCW  YORK-CI-rY. 


[i8i] 


183 
In  writing  history,  or  biography  it  is  not  always  con- 
sidered safe  to  say  too  much  of  the  living.  The  mutations 
of  life,  and  changeableness  of  human  character,  are  such  as 
sometimes  to  most  unexpectedly  reverse  our  early  opinions 
of  men  and  women.  But  when  they  have  closed  their  earthly 
career,  and  passed  on  to  the  other  life,  the  situation  is  different. 
Their  record  is  then  made,  it  is  unchangeable.  With  this 
view  it  has  been  the  policy  of  the  writer  of  these  pages  to 
say  what  he  truthfully  could  of  the  latter,  but  with  the 
former,  those  now  living,  treat  with  brevity  and  conciseness. 
If  any  departure  from  this  course  can  be  made,  with  absolute 
assurance  of  right,  it  is  in  reference  to  the  one  now  under 
consideration.  It  is  not  often  that  we  can  say  of  any  one 
that  he  contains  all  the  perfections  of  the  ideal  man.  But 
the  writer  voices  the  opinion  of  many  others,  as  well  as  his 
own,  in  the  expression  that  of  all  of  the  Ellises  whom  he  has 
known,  as  well  as  of  all  men,  he  excels.  Always  calm, 
never  impulsive,  never  spurred  hither  and  thither  by  each 
desire  that  comes  uppermost,  but  self-controlled,  self-bal- 
anced, always  self-reliant,  and  governed  by  the  joint  suprem- 
acy of  the  intellect  and  the  will ;  never  an  act,  or  expression, 
without  calm  deliberation;  firm  in  his  convictions  of  truth 
and  right,  with  the  natural  always  subservient  to  the  spiritual; 
living  in  the  world,  yet  above  it ;  theoretical,  yet  thoroughly 
practical;  with  an  unfailing  reliance  on  Divine  Providence; 
presenting  all  the  traits  of  a  pure,  noble,  and  Christian  man 
in  an  exalted  degree;  he  is,  and  has  been  from  early  man- 
hood, an  example  worthy  the  imitation  and  reverence  of  men. 
June  29,  1843,  Dr.  John  Ellis  married  in  Chesterfield, 
Mass.,  his  first  wife, 

(244.)  MARY  E.  COIT.  She  was  born  in  Norwich, 
Hampshire  Co.,  Mass,  in  181 7.  She  was  the  second  daughter 
of  Harvey  and  Nancy  Stone  Coit.  Mr.  Harvey  Coit  lived 
many  years  in  Chesterfield,  Mass.,  but  in  later  years  he 
removed  to  Columbus,  Ohio.  His  sons,  Messrs.  Harvey 
Coit,  jr.,  and  George  Coit,  are  now  living  in  Columbus. 

Mary  E.  Coit  was  a  descendant  of  John  Coit,  who  came 
from  Wales  in  1635.      He  was  among  the  settlers  at  Salem, 


184 
in  1638,  at  Gloucester,  in  1644,  and  at  New  London,  Conn., 
in  1650,  where  he  died  in  1659.  His  wife,  Mary  Jenness 
Coit,  died  in  1676  aged  80  years.  One  of  their  descendants 
was  Dea.  Joseph  Coit,  born  1673,  married  Martha  Harris. 
One  of  their  sons,  Col.  Samuel  Coit,  born  in  Plainfield,  Conn., 
in  1708,  married  Sarah  Spaulding.  Their  son,  Benjamin, 
born  1731,  married  Abigail  Billings  and  lived  in  Griswold, 
Conn.  Their  son.  Rev.  Joseph  Coit,  born  1763,  married 
Experience  Wheeler  of  Stonington,  Conn.,  and  they  were 
the  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Mary  Coit  Ellis.  Mrs.  Ellis  was 
a  woman  of  unusual  beauty,  gentleness  and  loveliness  of 
character.  She  died  in  Detroit,  Oct.  15,  1850,  aged  33 
years.  Of  her  three  children  but  one,  Mr.  W.  D.  Ellis, 
(760)  of  New  York  city,  is  now  living. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Ellis  was  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  Aurelia  Coit 
Caskey,  wife  of  Hon.  Samuel  Caskey,  an  old  and  promi- 
nent resident  of  Detroit.  Mrs.  Caskey's  father,  John  H. 
Coit,  lived  in  Norwich,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.  She  has  a 
genealogical  record  of  the  Coit  family,  published  in  1874, 
from  which,  by  her  courtesy,  the  writer  has  procured  the 
above  statistics. 

(245.)  SARAH  MARIA  LEONARD,  second  wife  of 
Dr.  John  Ellis,  was  born  in  Barker,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Aug.  14th,  1828.  Her  father,  Joseph  Leonard,  Jr.,  was 
born  in  Chenango,  N.  Y.,  about  1791  and  died  in  Port 
Huron,  Mich.,  in  1874.  ^^^  mother,  Margaret  Hammar 
was  born  in  Somerville,  N.  J.,  in  1794,  ^"^  ^^^^  ^"  Ionia, 
Mich.,  in  1882,  aged  88  years.  Mrs.  Ellis'  parents  settled 
in  Troy,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich,,  in  very  early  times,  when 
Michigan  was  a  territory.  Their  childten  were,  Mary 
Ann,  born  1818,  married  Ezekiel  Crocker  Leonard  and 
they  live  in  Edgewater,  N.  J.  Their  only  son,  Theodore, 
is  a  partner  of  Dr.  John  and  W.  D.  Ellis  in  the  oil  business. 
Seth,  born  1820,  is  a  farmer  and  lives  in  Troy,  Mich.  Cath- 
erine, born  1822,  married  Alanson  King,  and  they  have 
lived  in  Ionia,  Mich.,  for  many  years  (Mr.  King  died  early 


i85 
in   1887),  Elizabeth,  born   1824,  married   Hiram  King  and 
lived  in  Saginaw,  Mich.,  several  years  where  Mr.  King  died 
about  1880. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  were  married  in  Troy,  Oakland  Co., 
Mich.,  Oct.  30,  1851.  A  short  time  previous  to  his  last 
marriage  Dr.  Ellis  had  built  a  large  double  brick  four  story 
residence  at  41  and  43  Congress  street,  west,  in  Detroit, 
where  he  resided  and  carried  on  his  medical  business  until 
his  removal  to  New  York  in  1861. 

In  June,  1884,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  started  on  an  eastern 
tour  to  the  old  world.  They  visited  nearly  every  country  of 
Europe,  and  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land.  They  were  gone 
just  one  year.  A  full  account  of  their  trip  was  published 
weekly  in  "  The  Da-wn^''  a  London  publication,  and  sent  to  a 
large  number  of  their  friends  in  this  country. 

Mrs.  Ellis  is  a  very  bright  woman,  well-educated,  is  a 
graduate  in  medicine  and,  several  years  ago,  lectured  in 
the  Woman's  Medical  College  in  New  York.  She  has 
aided  her  husband  greatl}-^  in  his  literary,  medical  and 
business  pursuits.  Her  two  children  died  in  infancy.  The 
eldest,  Lilly,  was  born  Aug.  5th,  1852,  and  died  Sept.  27th 
of  the  same  year.  Edward  Dell  Ellis,  their  second  child, 
was  born  May  30th,  1855,  and  died  Aug.  6th,  1855.  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Ellis  own  elegant  apartments  in  "  The  Chelsea,'* 
a  new  apartment  house,  or  block,  ten  stories  high,  at  222 
West  23rd  Street.  This  kind  of  a  structure  is  a  modern 
invention  in  which  four  or  more  complete  residences  are 
constructed  on  each  story  with  one  or  more  elevators,  besides 
stairways,  leading  to  the  top.  The  owners  of  each  residence 
form  a  joint  association  for  its  general  management,  and 
none  are  allowed  to  buy  or  rent  therein  unless  acceptable  to 
all  the  others.  The  upper  stories  of  such  a  building  are 
very  cool,  airy  and  sightly,  and  withal  quite  desirable  apart- 
ments for  those  who  wish  to  get  above  the  din  and  dust  and 
confusion  of  the  over-crowded  streets  below.  These  build- 
ings are  about  130  feet  high,  fire-proof,  and  the  light  and 
ventilation  of  the  upper  stories,  at  least,  all  one  could  desire. 


1 86 

Cblldren  of  Sylvia  Ellis  (75),  and  ber  tausband,  Asber  Beld- 

inir«     Orandcblldren  of  I^leut.  Jobn  and   srreat 

srandcblldren  of  RIcbard  Cllls,  all 

of  Asbfield,  346  to  2SJ« 

(246.)  ARETUS  BELDING,  eldest  child  of  Sylvia 
and  Asher  Belding,  was  born  in  Ashfield  in  1803.  He 
married  Nancy  Pine  in  Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  where  he  died 
in  1830,  leaving  no  children. 

(247.)  JANE  BELDING  was  born  in  Ashfield,  in 
1806.  She  married,  Mr.  John  Shaw  in  Washtenaw  Co., 
Mich.,  but  they  settled  in  Otisco,  Mich.,  about  1838.  Mr. 
Shaw  was  a  farmer,  a  Baptist  in  religious  belief,  an 
Englishman  by  birth  and  a  man  of  great  good  sense, 
enterprise  and  wealth.  His  farm  was  one  and  one-half 
miles  north  of  Otisco  Center,  where  his  son,  Asher,  now 
lives  with  his  family.  Mr.  Shaw  died  about  1880,  at 
Greenville,  Mich.,  to  which  place  he  had  removed  about 
1865. 

Mrs.  Jane  Shaw  was  a  woman  of  great  energy  and 
business  talent  and  of  the  most  upright  character.  She 
was  widely  known  and  respected.  She  died  in  Greenville 
in  1869.  Her  three  children  were,  William,  who  lived  in 
Mapleton,  Dakota,  some  years  ago  ;  Sylvia,  who  married 
James  Tallman,  a  thriving  farmer,  in  Ordway,  Dakota,  and 
Asher,  who  lives  on  the  homestead  in  Otisco. 

( )  EDWARD  BELDING,  second  son  of  Sylvia  an'a 

Asher  Belding,  was  born  in  Ashfield  in  1810.  He  died  at 
10  years  of  age. 

(248.)  EBENEZER  BELDING  was  born  in  Ashfield, 
in  181 1.  It  is  said  that  he  went  "to  sea"  when  about  24 
years  of  age  and  w^as  never  heard  from  afterwards. 

(249.)  VOLNET  BELDING,  was  born  1814.  Like  most 
of  Ashfield  youths  he  started  out  early  to  seek  a  new 
location.  In  the  spring  of  1837,  he  settled  in  Otisco,  one 
mile  north  of  the  town  corners  or  center,  where  he  located 
a  farm  of  160  acres  of  excellent  land.  Soon  after  he  also 
engaged  in  lumbering  on  "  Lincoln  creek,"  about  10  miles 
further  north,  where  he  built  the  first  saw  mill  in  that  part 


,87 

of  the  State.  About  1845,  he  built  other  mills  three  miles 
further  up  on  Flat  River,  at  what  is  now  Gowan,  a 
station  on  the  Detroit,  Lansing  &  Northern  Railroad.  AH 
mills  in  those  times  were  run  by  water  power  and  the 
streams  were  dammed  by  hard  labor  and  at  great  expense, 
and  were  subject  to  frequent  "  wash-outs "  from  floods. 
Mr.  Belding's  experience  in  this  business  was  varied  by 
all  the  ups  and  downs  which  could  be  conceived  of.  But 
he  was  a  man  of  the  most  undaunted  courage,  perseverance, 
and  hopefulness  and  ever  held  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  the  people  of  all  that  section.  In  1844  he  returned  to 
Ash  field,  where  he  married  Miss  Louisa  Flower,  a  daughter 
of  Horace  or  Horatio  Flower  and  niece  of  Rhoda  (177) 
and  Rumina  Flower  (181),  who  married  William  and 
David  Ellis,  Jr.  She  is  a  woman  of  rare  intelligence 
and  worth.  Soon  after  their  marriage  they  returned  to 
Michigan,  where  Mr.  Belding  continued  farming  and  lum- 
bering nearly  twenty  years,  when  he  removed  to  a  farm 
at  Saltville,  Kansas.  They  have  had  eight  children,  six 
of  whom  are  now  living  in  Kansas  and  Missouri.  These 
are  Mary  Jane,  Edward  E.,  Pauline  E.,  Carrie  L,,  Sylvia 
E.  and  John  Asher  Belding. 

Mr.  Volney  Belding  is  in  poor  health  and  lately  has  been 
residing  with  his  son  at  Flat  Creek,  Barry  Co.,  Mo. 

(251.)  THOMAS  BELDING  was  born  in  1816.  He 
went  to  Michigan  with  his  brother,  Volney,  and  located  a 
farm  just  east  and  adjoining  the  latter.  In  1846  he  married 
Miss  Emeline  Weaver,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Aaron  Weaver, 
a  very  aged  resident  at  the  present  time,  of  Otisco.  Mrs. 
Belding  died  a  few  years  later  leaving  no  children.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  gold-fever  excitement  in  California, 
in  1850,  Thomas  went  there  and  remained  until  1872. 
He  died  in  1878,  in  Nevada,  where  he  had  a  farm. 

(253.)  CHANDLER  BELDING,  youngest  child  of 
Asher  and  Sylvia  Ellis  Belding,  was  born  in  Ashfield 
in  1819.  In  1850  he  went  to  California  and  in  1872  to 
Nevada,  where  he  had  a  ranch  or  farm  with  his  brother 
Thomas.     He  died  in  1883,  leaving  no  children. 


1 88 

Cliildren  of  Daniel  Ellis  (97).  of    EMIsbnra:,  Jefiferson    Co., 

K.  Y.,    and     their    liusbands    and  •wives.        Grand- 

cbildren    of    Caleb    (19),    of    EllisburK.  and 

arreat  srandcbildren  of   Ricbard,  of 

Asbfield.      Krom    »6o  to  273' 

(260.)  ELIZABETH  ELLIS,  eldest  child  of  Daniel 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Adams,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  1804.  She 
married  Mr.  Geo.  Paddock  and  had  two  children,  Henry 
A.  and  Maria,  who  are  married  and  live  in  Prophetstown, 
Whiteside,  Co.,  Illinois.  The  latter  married  a  Mr.  Nichols, 
and  he  died  about  i860. 

(264.)  MARIA  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Daniel  Ellis,  was 
born  in  Adams,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  nth,  1807,  and 
died  in  1863.  She  married  Mr.  Elisha  Salisbury  of  Ellis- 
burg.  She  had  one  daughter,  Martha,  and  three  sons, 
Abiram,  Daniel  and  David.  The  latter  are  said  to  live  in 
or  near  Midland,  Mich. 

(266.)  LORENZO  D.  ELLIS,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born 
in  Adams,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  nth,  1805.  He  married  a  Mrs. 
Mehitable  Brown  Martin,  a  widow  with  one  daughter, 
Julia  Ann.  She  was  one  of  a  family  of  eleven  children. 
Her  parents  lived  at  Chazy,  Clinton  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  were 
Oliver  and  Ann  Babcock  Brown,  and  all  were  Methodists 
and  highly  respected  people. 

Mr.  Ellis  and  Mrs.  Martin  were  married  at  Alburgh, 
Vt.,  in  1836.  Mrs.  Ellis  died  in  1866,  leaving  four  children, 
Christina  E.,  Carrie  M.,  Myra  and  Oliver  L.  D.  Ellis. 
Christina,  born  1837,  married  Mr.  Caleb  Ellis  of  EUisburg, 
N.  Y.,  (see  319).  Carrie  M.  was  born  Oct.  22d,  1839,  ^" 
Champlain,  N.  Y.  She  has  never  married,  is  a  teacher  at 
Brooklyn,  Cal.  Myra  was  born  at  Bangor,  Franklin  Co., 
N.  Y.,  July  i8th,  1842,  educated  at  Union  Academy,  at 
Belleville,  and  in  1864  married  Capt.  Edwin  Swan  of 
Adams,  N.  Y.  Capt.  Swan  was  in  the  Union  army  and 
was  a  highly  respected  man.  He  died  in  1865.  Mrs. 
Swan  afterwards  married  Mr.  George  Nichols  of  Water- 
town,  N.  Y,  He  is  a  druggist  and  has  lived  at  Grand 
Rapids,  Mich.,  for  the  past  15  years. 


189 

Oliver  L.  D.  Ellis,  youngest  child  of  Lorenzo  D.,  was 
born  at  Bangor,  N.  Y.,  June  20th,  1845.  He  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army  at  16  years  of  age  and  served  through  the 
Rebellion.  He  is  married,  has  five  children  and  lives  in 
Kansas.  His  wife  was  Fannie  Barker,  daughter  of  Leonard 
O.  Barker  (320)  of  Young,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Lorenzo  D.  Ellis  was  too  old  to  join  the  army  during 
the  Rebellion,  but  he  served  some  time  in  the  hospital  at 
Hampton,  Va.  He  died  in  Manlius,  Onondaga  Co.,  and 
was  buried  in  Adams,  N.  Y.,  in  1875.  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^ 
March,  1866.  She  was  a  lovely,  patient,  hopeful  and  deeply 
religious  woman. 

(268.)  CATHARINE  ELLIS  was  born  August  nth, 
1813,  and  died  in  1830. 

(270.)  NICHOLAS  GROAT  ELLIS,  son  of  Daniel 
and  Christine  Groat  Ellis,  was  born  at  EUisburg,  N.  Y., 
May  2d,  1815.  He  married  Miss  Zilpha  B.  Case,  who 
was  born  in  Watertovvn,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  i6th,  1818.  They 
were  married  Feb.  20th,  1844.  Their  children  were  Henry 
G.,  bom  Feb.  26th,  1845  ;  Geo.  W,,  May  3d,  1847  ;  Mar- 
garet J.,  Sept.  i8th,  1849,  died  Sept.  4th,  1857  ;  Edward 
D.,  Dec.  2d,  185 1,  and  Lewis  M.,  Oct.  13th,  1856,  the  last 
born  at  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  and  the  others  in  Canada  West. 

Henry  G.  Ellis  married  Clara  V.  Fuller  in  Wisconsin, 
in  1867. 

Geo.  W.  Ellis  married  Alma  Earl,  at  Bronson,  Mich.,  in 
1873,  and  have  two  children,  Maggie  Louisa  and  Lois  Maria. 

Edward  D.  Ellis  married  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  in  1883. 

Lewis  M.  Ellis  married  Louisa  S.  Doust,  at  Charlotte, 
Mich.,  in  1880.  Their  children  were  Bertha,  Beulah  and 
Paul.  Mr.  Lewis  M.  Ellis,  with  his  family,  settled  at 
Mason,  Mich.,  where  he  v^^as  secretary  and  general  manager 
of  the  Mason  carriage  works.  He  was  also  an  alderman 
of  the  village  and  a  very  prominent  and  highly  respected 
man.  He  died  Nov.  2d,  1885,  much  regretted,  as  he  was 
young  and  gave  great  promise  of  further  usefulness  to  his 
family  and  friends. 

Mr.  Nicholas  Groat  Ellis  died  in  187 1. 


(272.)  MARCUS  A.  ELLIS,  son  of  Daniel  Ellis,  of 
Ellisburg,  was  bom  Nov.  25th,  1817.  He  died  in  1879, 
unmarried. 

(273.)  REV.  ALBERT  A.  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of 
Daniel  Ellis  of  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  was  born  in  Adams,  (next 
town  north  of  Ellisburg)  April  6th,  1820.  He  joined  the 
Baptist  church  and  was  ordained  a  minister  of  that  denom- 
ination. He  came  to  Michigan  in  early  life  and  preached  for 
a  time  at  Brooklyn,  Northville  and  Plymouth.  He  married 
Electa  A.  Barney,  in  Jefferson  Co.,  and  they  had  several 
children.  Edward  S.,  born  1847,  is  a  lawyer  and  judge 
in  Lisbon,  Dakota,  and  also  mayor  of  the  town.  He 
married  Alice  Kearney  in  1876.  Mary  L.,  born  1848, 
married  Mr.  Frank  Pratt  of  Painesville,  Ohio.  She  died  in 
1885.  Charles  S.  Ellis,  born  June  26th,  1852,  married 
Maggie  S.  Leys,  Feb.  14th,  1883.  They  live  in  Sarnia, 
Canada,  where  Mr.  Ellis  is  a  dry  goods  merchant. 

Mrs.  Electa  A.  Ellis  was  born  Dec.  2d,  1822,  married 
at  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  Sept,  22d,  1844,  and  died  in  1854. 

Rev.  Mr.  Ellis,  for  his  second  wife,  married  Mrs.  Mary 
S.  G.  Noyes,  June  28th,  1855.  She  was  born  Aug.  29th, 
182 1.  Her  maiden  name  was  Mary  Sherwood  Gregory  ; 
born  in  Perington,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  at  the  age  of 
nine  years  removed  with  her  parents  to  Plymouth,  Mich. 
She  first  married  Dr.  Justin  Noyes,  who  died,  as  did  also 
two  children  by  him,  Emma  and  Marj-^  Noyes. 

Mrs.  Mary  S.  G.  Ellis,  died  in  Brooklyn,  Jackson  Co., 
Mich.,  June  7th,  1856.  Her  parents  were  William  S.  and 
Lydia  Gregor}',  of  Plymouth,  Mich.  She  was  a  woman  of 
sincere  piety  and  usefulness  and  was  beloved  by  all.  A  sister 
of  hers  Mrs.  Lyon,  wife  of  Hon.  T.  T.  Lyon,  lives  in  South 
Haven,  Mich.,  where  Mr.  Lyon  is  engaged  largely  in  rais- 
ing fruit  and  is  a  man  of  considerable  note  in  this  State. 
She  left  an  infant  child,  Mary  E.  G.  Ellis,  born  in  Brooklyn, 
May  17th,  1856,  who  married  Mr.  Dewitt  H.  Moreland, 
at  Plymouth,  Jan.  30th,  1876.  They  now  reside  in  Detroit, 
and  have  one  daughter,  Lois  Claire  Moreland,  born  May 
7th,  1877. 


Mr.  Moreland  is  in  the  railroad  business.  He  is  general 
traveling  agent  for  the  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  &  Manitoba 
Railroad.  He  was  born  and  raised  in  Plymouth,  Mich., 
in  the  same  neighborhood  with  his  wife.  The  latter,  after 
the  death  of  her  mother  in  Brooklyn,  Mich.,  was  reared  by 
her  aunt,  Mrs.  T.  T.  Lyon,  who  then,  and  for  many  years 
after,  lived  at  Plymouth. 

Rev.  Albert  A.  Ellis  for  his  third  wife  married  Mrs.  Jane 
Brink  Swift,  of  North ville,  Mich.  Her  first  husband  was  a 
brother  of  Dr.  Swift,  now  and  for  many  years  a  prominent 
physician  of  Northville.  About  a  year  after  her  marriage 
to  Mr.  Ellis  the  latter  died.  Afterward  Mrs.  Ellis  was  again 
married  to  Mr.  Clark  of  Sarnia,  Canada,  where  they  both 
now  reside.  Mr.  Clark  is  a  wealthy  and  highly  respected 
merchant  there.  Mrs.  Clark  is  a  woman  of  great  refine- 
ment, unusual  intelligence  and  amiability.  Several  of  Mr. 
Ellis'  children  by  his  first  wife  were  reared  by  her  after  the 
death  of  their  father. 

Rev.  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  man  of  uncommon  talent, 
both  as  a  minister  and  business  man.  He  dealt  largely  in 
pine  and  other  lands  and  in  1859  visited  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.,  on  a  business  expedition.  He  was  taken  sick  at  his 
hotel,  the  old  National,  where  the  Morton  House  now 
stands,  and  suddenly  died,  in  a  day  or  two  after.  Rev.  Mr. 
C.  C.  Miller,  now  of  Oxford,  Mich.,  and  some  other  church 
and  lodge  friends  of  an  order  to  which  Mr.  Ellis  and  they 
belonged  were  notified  and  sent  the  remains  to  his  family 
in  Northville.  Rev.  Supply  Chase  of  this  city,  the  oldest 
Baptist  minister  in  this  State,  recollects  Mr.  EUis  and  his 
last  wife  and  speaks  of  them  both  in  the  highest  terms  of 
commendation.  

Rev.  Mr.  Ellis'  parents  and  grandparents  were  ardent 
Methodists  in  religious  belief,  as  were  all  the  EUises  in  and 
about  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  and  he  was  reared  in  this  belief,  but 
what  induced  him  to  depart  from  the  faith  of  his  fathers 
and  become  a  Baptist  does  not  now  appear.  However,  it 
may  safely  be  attributed  to  that  feeling  of  independence  and 
desire  to  investigate,  each  for  himself,  which  is  an  Ellis  trait, 
and  as  he  was  a  man  of  unusual  intelligence,  this  assurance 
may  be  taken  as  positive. 


192 

Clilldreu  of  John  dllH  (loi),  of  Elllaburs:,  N.  v.,  and  tlielr 

'Wives  and  tiuHbands.     Grandctiildren  of  Caleb  (19) 

and  Kreat  ttrrandcliildren  of  Richard,  of 

Ashfield.     Prom  x86  to  998. 

(286.)  CALEB  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  John,  was  bom 
in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  17th,  1806.  He  died  several 
years  ago,  leaving  three  children  :  Melvin,  who  is  a  physi- 
cian, Mary  Etta,  who  married  a  Lockwood,  and  Arvilla, 
who  married  a  Canwell  and  lived  in  Toledo,  Ohio. 

(288.)  SQUIRE  ELLIS,  son  of  John  of  EUisburg 
N.  Y.,  was  born  March  ist,  181 1.  He  married  Theresa 
Washburn  and  had  three  children. 

Elizabeth  married  Capt.  William  Gilbert  and  they  live 
at  Henderson  Harbor,  N.  Y.  He  sails  the  schooner  Wm. 
Gilbert. 

Caroline  married  Augustus  Sanford,  a  farmer,  and  they 
live  in  EUisburg. 

John  H.  Ellis,  son  of  Squire,  married  Nancy  Goodnough 
and  they  have  two  daughters  :  Libbie,  who  married  Avery 
Otis,  a  farmer  in  Illinois,  and  Carrie,  who  married  Mark 
Howard,  a  farmer  in  EUisburg. 

Mr.  Squire  Ellis  died  Dec.  17th,  1843,  and  Mrs.  Theresa 
Ellis  again  married  a  Mr.  William  Cronk.  They  now  live  at 
EUisburg  and  are  over  75  years  of  age.  They  have  four 
children,  all  married,  Joseph,  Silas,  Julia  and  OweUen  Cronk. 

(290)  MARY  ELLIS,  daughter  of  John  (loi),  and 
Betsey  Smith,  his  second  wife,  was  born  in  EUisburg,  N.  Y., 
Sept.  I2lh,  1822.  Jan.  30th,  1844,  she  married  Wm.  Mc- 
Kinley  and  he  died  in  1847,  leaving  two  sons,  John  and 
Frank,  both  married  and  living  in  or  near  Benton  Harbor, 
Mich.  Mrs.  Mary  EUis  McKinley  was  again  married  to 
Mr.  Hiram  Tubbs  of  Benton  Harbor,  where  they  now  live. 
They  have  four  children,  Edgar,  Everett,  Ella  and  Hattie. 

(292).  DANIEL  ELLIS,  son  of  John  (loi),  was  born 
in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.  Aug  23d,  1824.  He  married  Laura 
Etta  Woodruff.  Mr.  Ellis  died  leaving  three  children,  all 
now  living  at  Benton  Harbor,  Mich.  Frederick,  WUliam 
and  Mary,  who  married  Thomas  Winters. 


193 

(294.)  GEORGE  ROGER  ELLIS,  son  of  John  (loi), 
was  born  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  ist,  1830.  He  was 
married  and  had  two  sons.  He  was  thrown  from  a  horse 
and  killed. 

(296.)  HANNAH  ELLIS,  daughter  of  John  (loi),  was 
born  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  March  22d,  1833.  She  married 
George  Fuller  and  now  lives  at  Benton  Harbor,  Mich. 
They  have  three  children  :  Adelbert,  born  1852,  Mary,  1856, 
and  Maggie,  1862.  The  latter  married  Frank  Ellis  and 
they  live  at  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.  Adelbert  Fuller  is  married 
and  lives  at  Benton  Harbor. 

(298.)  CAPT.  EDWARD  N.  ELLIS,  son  of  John 
(loi),  and  his  third  wife,  Kate  Duran,  was  born  in  Ellisburg, 
N.  Y.,  Oct.  2ist,  1839.  H^  ^s  ^  sailor  and  has  been  on  the 
lakes  since  he  was  ten  years'  old.  He  has  commanded 
several  boats  and  is  now  in  the  iron  ore  trade  between 
Marquette,  Mich.,  and  Lake  Erie  ports. 

Dec.  23d,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Ann  Minor,  a  daughter 
of  Capt.  Wm.  and  Margaret  Swarthout  Minor.  Capt.  Ellis 
has  one  daughter,  Mary  Louisa,  born  Aug.  26th,  1875. 
His  family  reside  at  Ellisburg,  N.  Y. 

Capt.  Ellis'  mother's  (Kate  Duran,)  maiden  name  was 
Kate  or  Catharine  Colon,  Her  first  husband  was  William 
Duran,  by  whom  she  had  four  children  :  Capt.  A  W. 
Duran,  Nancy,  who  married  Capt.  Hiram  Emory  and  now 
live  in  Grand  Traverse,  Mich.,  Mary  Duran,  who  married 
Nathan  Farnam  and  lived  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  and  Jane  H., 
who  married  a  Lafayette  and  live  in  Oswego,  N.  Y.  Eight 
years  after  Mrs.  Duran's  marriage  to  Mr.  John  Ellis  (loi), 
she  was  again  left  a  widow,  with  a  family  of  young  children. 
She  was  married  to  Mr.  Ellis  Jan.  20th,  1839.  She  was  a 
woman  of  great  courage,  industry  and  perseverance,  and 
was  highly  respected  by  all.  She  died  at  Ellisburg,  N.  Y., 
April  19th,  1884. 


194 

Children:  of  Xhoniaa   FAUm   (io8),  of    ElllsburK,  K.  V.,   and 

tlieir  'wt'ves   and    husbands.       Grandchildren   of 

Caleb   (19),  and    nrreat-jprandchlldren     of 

Richard  Ellis.     Prom  310  to  328. 

(310.)  RICHARD  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Thomas,  of 
EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  was  born  Feb.  7th,  1813,  in  Woodville, 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  graduated  at  Hamilton  College, 
in  1834,  and  ever  since  has  been  engaged  in  teaching  in 
academies.  In  1842,  he  married  Miss  Emily  A.  Clark,  a 
daughter  of  John  Clark,  a  mechanic  and  farmer  of  Copen- 
hagen, Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  died  in  1849  at  27  years  of 
age,  leaving  one  son,  Theodore  C.  Ellis. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Ellis  was  again  married  in  Cazenovia  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Barrett,  a  farmer's  daughter.  Her  father, 
Amasa  Barrett  of  Cazenovia,  died  in  1865.  Her  mother, 
Fanny  Damon  Barrett,  died  in  1875.  She  was  a  graduate 
of  Oneida  Conference  Seminary  and  since  her  marriage  to 
Mr.  Ellis  has  been  engaged  in  teaching  with  her  husband. 
Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  in  1825.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  now 
reside  at  Cazenovia,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  having  partial- 
ly retired  from  teaching.  They  have  taught  in  the  Belle- 
ville Academy,  Hudson  River  Institute,  and  for  the  last 
twenty-three  years  in  Cazenovia.  They  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  church. 

Mr.  Ellis'  son,  Theodore  C,  born  in  Rodman,  Jefferson 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1845,  is  a  lawyer,  graduated  at  Marietta, 
Ohio,  and  now  resides  in  Kansas. 

(312.)  RUSSELL  ELLIS,  second  son  of  Thomas, 
was  born  in  181 5,  in  Woodville,  N.  Y.,  (township  of 
EUisburg.)  In  1835  ^^  married  Miss  Martha  A.  Cook, 
of  Pulaski,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  in  1817  and  died 
in  1878.  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  merchant  and  in  1850  went  to 
California,  and,  in  returning  from  San  Francisco  to  Panama 
on  a  vessel,  was  taken  sick  and  died  on  the  passage.  He 
had  one  son,  Hiram  Russell  Ellis,  born  in  Woodville,  N.  Y., 
in  1840.  The  latter  now  resides  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 
He  married  Francis  A.Pierce  in   Grand  Rapids,  July  6th, 


195 
1865,  and   have  had  eight   children,  Russell  P.,  born  1867  ; 
Lola,  1869  ;    Harry  H.,  1872  ;  Frank   H.,  1875  ;   Gertrude, 
1877,  died  in  1881  ;    Gilbert   C,  1879 ;    Edwin  D.,  1881  ; 
Geo.  H.,  1884. 

Mr.  Hiram  R.  Ellis  was  an  officer  in  the  Union  army. 
He  enlisted  from  Saugatuck,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  August 
19th,  1862,  as  Sergeant  of  Co.  I,  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry. 
August  15th,  1864  he  was  appointed  First  Lieut.,  and 
Brevet  Capt.  of  U.  S.  Vol.  March  13th,  1865,  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  services  during  the  war.  He  was  mustered 
out  June  5th,  1865. 

(314.)  SARAH  ELLIS,  eldest  daughter  of  Thomas, 
was  born  in  Eliisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1816.  She  married  David 
Fulton,  Jr.,  in  Belleville,  N.  Y.,  (Eliisburg  township)  Jan. 
13th,  1841.  Mr.  Fulton  was  born  in  Eliisburg,  in  181 7,  and 
was  a  son  of  David  Fulton,  Sr.,  (see  81,  page  121)  and  a 
grandson  of  James  and  Hannah  Ellis  Fulton  of  Colerain, 
Mass.  Mr.  David  Fulton,  Jr.,  died  in  Belleville,  Oct.  9th, 
1886.  He  was  a  farmer.  Mrs,  Sarah  Ellis  Fulton  lives 
on  the  homestead  and  has  four  sons  :  James,  born  1843  ; 
Thomas,  1849  ;  David,  Jr.,  1852,  and  Charles  N.,  1855. 

James  Fulton  married  Frances  Grant  of  Belleville. 
They  have  two  children. 

Thomas  Fulton  married  Abbie  Evans  of  Belleville, 
where  they  now  live. 

David  Fulton  married  Ella  Young,  of  Young,  N.  Y., 
and  they  have  one  child. 

(316.)  DATID  ELLIS,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born 
in  1818,  in  Belleville,  N.  Y.  He  married  Miss  Pame- 
lia  Clark  in  Belleville,  September,  1841.  Mrs.  Ellis  was 
born  in  1820  and  died  in  1865,  leaving  one  child, 
Hannah.  Mr.  David  Ellis  held  the  office  of  Sheriff  of 
Jefferson  County  several  terms,  and  was  a  very  prominent 
man.  He  was  a  man  of  great  physical  strength,  very  soci- 
able and  of  uncommon  popularity.  He  died  in  1884.  Two 
of  his  children  died  in  infancy.  Hannah,  born  in  1861,  is 
now  living  in  Belleville. 


196 

(318.)  CALEB  ELLIS,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  in 
EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1820.  He  married  Maria  Louisa 
Barker  in  EUisburg,  Jan.  17,  1843.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  in 
1820  and  died  in  1858,  leaving  four  children:  Martha  Ann, 
Vial  T.,  Russell  and  Henry  D.  Ellis.  Martha  Ann,  born 
1844,  married  Mr.  Vernon  Herrington,  have  four  sons  and 
all  live  in  Walker  Township,  P.  O.  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 
Vial  T.  born  May  19,  1848,  died  Oct.  29,  1864.  Russell, 
born  Jan.  12,  1852,  married  Miss  Gertie  A.  Enos,  Jan.  22, 
1873.  They  have  two  children  and  reside  at  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich.  Henry  D.,  born  June  8th,  1854,  ^^  unmarried  and 
lives  at  EUisburg,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  Maria  L.  Barker  Ellis  was  a  sister  of  Mr.  Leonard 
O.  Barker  of  Young,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  married 
Mary  Ellis  (320),  a  sister  of  Caleb  EUis,  of  Belleville,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  EUis  was  a  teacher  in  early  life  but  when  his  father 
became  aged  he  took  the  farm  and  homestead,  where  he 
now  resides. 

Mr.  Caleb  Ellis'  second  wife  is 

(319.)  CHRISTINA  E.  ELLIS,  a  daughter  of  Lor- 
enzo D.  EUis  (266).  The  latter  is  a  cousin  ot  Caleb. 
Mrs.  Christina  E.  EUis  was  born  in  Colwell's  Manor, 
Canada,  in  1837.  She  married  Mr.  EUis,  Oct.  nth,  i860,  at 
Bangor,  FrankUn  Co.,  N.Y.,  and  the)'  now  live  at  Belleville. 
Mrs.  EUis  was  a  school  teacher  for  several  years  in  Bangor 
and  afterwards  at  EUisburg  previous  to  her  marriage.  She 
has  three  children,  Florence  E.,  Geo,  Edwin,  and  Albert  T. 
EUis.  Florence  E.,  born  May  19th,  1863,  graduated  at 
Union  Academy  at  BeUeviUe  and  has  been  a  teacher.  She 
joined  the  Methodist  Church  in  early  childhood,  and  is 
greatly  devoted  to  that  and  the  Sunday  School  work,  and  is 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Chautauqua  Circle,  a  literary 
society  of  rare  purity  and  excellence.  She  is  also  much 
devoted  to  music  and  painting,  and  has  spent  considerable 
time  in  New  York  City  studying  art  with  noted  teachers. 
Geo.   Edwin,  born    Dec.  22nd,    1864,  graduated  at  Union 


197 

Academy  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  then  entered  at  Syracuse 
University,  where  he  graduated  at  the  age  of  twenty.  He 
is  now  studying  law  at  Syracuse.  He  gives  promise  of 
uncommon  success  and  usefulness. 

Albert  T.,  born  April  loth,  1869,  lives  at  home,  and  is 
attending  Belleville  Academy. 

Mr.  Caleb  Ellis  is  a  farmer  and  lives  in  EUisburg,  where 
all  his  children  were  born.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Christina  E. 
Ellis,  is  a  woman  of  unusual  intelligence  and  worth  and  has 
aided  the  writer  greatly  in  this  part  of  his  work. 

(320.)  MARY  ELLIS,  second  daughter  of  Thomas 
Ellis,  was  born  in  EUisburg,  N.  Y,,  1822.  She  married 
Leonard  O.  Barker  in  1843,  at  EUisburg.  After war-ds  they 
removed  to  Young,  (Clay  Township),  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  they  now  live.     They  have  had  seven  children. 

Fannie  Barker,  the  eldest,  married  Oliver  L.  D.  Ellis,  a 
son  of  Lorenzo  D.  Ellis  (266),  and  they  have  five  children. 
They  reside  in  Kansas. 

Addie  Barker  died  in  infancy. 

Hannah  Jane  Barker  is  a  graduate  of  Oswego  Normal 
school  and  was  a  teacher.  She  married  Charles  McKissic, 
Jan.  20i  1866. 

Mary  A.  Barker  married  Lee  B.  Hibbard  of  Centerville, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two  children. 

Sarah  L.  Barker  married  Amos  E.  Freeman,  of  Young, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  have  one  child. 

Thurston  G.  Barker  is  a  farmer,  unmarried. 

Herbert  E.  Barker  died  in  his  eighteenth  year. 

Mr.  Leonard  O.  Barker  is  a  farmer.  Mrs.  Barker  is  a 
woman  of  superior  education  and  talent. 

(322.)  VIAL  ELLIS,  youngest  son  of  Thomas  Ellis, 
of  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  was  born  in  1825.  He  graduated  at 
Hamilton  College,  N.  Y.,  at  21  years  of  age.  He  died 
about  one  year  thereafter,  prematurely  closing  a  very  prom- 
ising life. 


198 

(324.)  JANE  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Thomas  Ellis,  of 
Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  was  born  in  1828.  She  married  George 
Waterson  of  Missouri.  They  moved  to  San  Francisco,  Cal., 
where  Mrs.  W.  died  in  1878.  She  was  a  teacher  of  music 
and  was  very  proficient  in  the  art.  She  had  no  children. 
She  experienced  religion  and  joined  the  Methodist  Church 
when  a  child,  and  was  a  woman  of  uncommon  amiability, 
intelligence  and  worth. 

(326.)  HANNAH  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Thomas,  was 
born  at  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1831.  She  married  Charles 
Rounds  of  Ellisburg,  about  1857.  She  died  in  1862,  leaving 
no  children.  She  was  a  person  of  very  bright  intellect,  rare 
wit,  and  loving  diposition.  Her  early  death  was  greatly 
deplored  by  a  large  circle  of  relatives  and  acquaintances. 

(328.)  PHEBE  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Thomas, 
was  born  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1833.  She  married  John 
Chamberlain  in  1868,  in  Belleville,  and  had  one  child,  John 
Jr.  Mr.  Chamberlain  died  in  1869,  and  in  1872,  Mrs. 
Chamberlain  married  Mr.  Gates  White  of  Pulaski,  N.  Y., 
and  had  two  children.  Mrs.  White  died  in  1875.  Her  hus- 
band and  three  children  live  in  Pulaski,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y. 


Cblldren  of  James  Ellla  (1x2),  of  EUlsbnrs:,  K.  Y.,  and  tbelr 

■wiyrem.     Grandchildren  of  Caleb  (19)  and  fpreat- 

Urrandcblldren  of  Rlcbard  of  Asbfield. 

Prom  330  to  336. 

(330.)  MARY  ANN  ELLIS,  eldest  child  of  James,  was 
born  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1816.  She  is  unmarried  and 
lives  in  Ellisburg. 

(332.)  THOMAS  ELLIS,  son  of  James,  was  born  in 
Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  181 7.  He  married  Cynthia  Sherman. 
They  lived  in  Ellisburg  where  they  had  six  children.  Mr. 
Ellis  died  in  1876.  His  widow  and  children  settled  in  Ber- 
rien Co.,  Mich.  Their  children  are  Polly,  James,  William, 
Adeibert,  Levi  and  Thomas  Jr. 


199 

(334.)  JOHN  W.  ELLIS,  son  of  James,  was  born  in 
EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1818.  He  married  Mary  Fuller,  who 
was  born  in  1825,  and  they  have  had  four  children.  Roderick 
D.  Ellis,  born  1843,  married  Minerva  Albro  and  they  have 
three  children,  Helen,  Edith,  and  John  E.  They  live  at 
EUisburg.  Helen  Ellis,  born  1847,  died  in  1853.  Martha 
Ellis,  born  1850,  married  M.  M.Johnson,  and  their  children 
are  Laura,  Ellis  and  Ernest  Johnson.  Fred.  Ellis,  born  1856, 
married  Phebe  Matthews  in  1874.  She  died  the  following 
year  and  he  married  Sybil  Matthews  in  1877  and  they  have 
one  son,  Leon  D.,  born  1879.  M*"-  John  W.  Ellis  is  a  farmer 
in  EUisburg. 

(336.)  ISAAC  ELLIS,  youngest  son  of  James,  was 
born  in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1822.  He  married  Margaret 
Beamer  and  they  have  four  children  :  Ellen,  born  1850; 
Alexander,  1852  ;  Benjamin,  1855,  and  Frank,  1862. 

Mr.  Isaac  Ellis  is  a  farmer  and  lives  at  La  Hogue, 
Iroquois  Co.,  Illinois.  His  daughter,  Ellen,  married  Henry 
Moore  and  they  live  in  Unadilla,  Otoe  Co.,  Nebraska. 
Alexander  married  Hattie  Crell  and  they  reside  in  La 
Hogue.  Benjamin  married  Kate  Snyder  and  they  live  at 
Spring  Bay,  Woodford  Co.,  111.  Frank  EUis  married 
Maggie  Fuller  and  lives  at  EUisburg,  N.  Y. 

Benjamin  Ellis  married  Kate  Snyder  in  Spring  Bay,  111., 
Jul}-^  23rd,  1876.  He  was  born  in  EUisburg,  N.  Y., 
July  27th,  1855.  ^is  wife  was  born  in  Spring  Bay,  Sept. 
6th,  1856.  Their  children  are  :  AHce  L.,  born  May  29th, 
1877  ;  Hannah  A.,  Dec.  29th,  1879  5  J^^''^  E.,  March  4th, 
1884  and  Mary,  Sept.  i8th,  1886. 


800 

Clilldren  of  Rot>ert  fZlUu  (its),  of  Eillstonrar.  K.  1^..  and  tbetr 

•wlxca  and  lin.sbands.    Orandcblldren  of  Caleb  (X9)( 

and   srreat-icraudcblldreu,  of    Rlcbard,  of 

Aatafield.     From  340  to  360. 

(340.;  LYMAN  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Robert,  was 
born  in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  17th,  1816.  His  wife  was 
Malvina  Zufelt,  born  1829.  Tliey  were  married  at  Ellis- 
burg  in  1848,  where  they  now  reside.  Their  children  are  : 
Dette  L.,  born  1850,  Fannie,  1852,  and  Arnita,  1856.  Mr. 
Ellis  is  a  farmer. 

(342.)  JANE  ELLIS,  eldest  daughter  of  Robert,  was 
born  in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  i8th,  1818.     She  died  in  1855. 

(344.)  MARY  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Robert,  was  born 
in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  loth,  1819. 

(346.)  CHARLOTTE  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Robert, 
was  born  in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  29th,  182 1. 

(348.)  JAMES  ELLIS,  son  of  Robert,  was  born  at 
EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  22d,  1822.  He  died  May  9th,  1871, 
at  Black  Lake,  Muskegon  Co.,  Mich.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  never  married. 

(350.)  ROBERT  ELLIS,  JR.,  son  of  Robert,  Sr., 
was  born  in  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  AprU  25th,  1824.  He 
married  Betsey  Chrisman  in  1853,  and  had  four  chUdren. 
His  wife  was  born  March  17th,  1835.  ^"  ^^^^  ^^'  -^^'^^ 
moved  from  EUisburg  to  Grand  Ledge,  Mich.,  and  in  1868 
to  Black  Lake,  Muskegon  County,  Michigan,  where  he 
died  May  6th,  1884.  ^^  was  a  farmer.  His  children 
were  :  Gad,  born  Sept.  20th,  1854,  niarried  Samantha 
Evart ;  Charles,  July  2d,  1857  ;  William,  February  3d, 
i860 ;  Byron,  Jan.  25th,  1681.  Most  of  this  family  now 
live  at  Black   Lake. 

(352.)  GAD  ELLIS,  son  of  Robert,  was  born  in 
EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  April  2d,  1826.     He  died  in  1862. 

(354.)  HARMON  ELLIS,  son  of  Robert,  was  born  in 
EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  loth,  1828. 


20Z 


(356.)  RACHEL  ELLIS,  daujrhter  of  Robert,  was 
born  at  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  July  i6th,  1830.  She  married 
Joseph  Hoyle  and  lived  in  Ellisburg  until  about  1877,  when 
she  removed  to  Stone  Mound,  Kansas.  She  has  two 
children,  Bertha  and  Ellsworth  Hoyle.  For  her  second 
husband,  Mrs.  Hoyle  married  Mr.  David  Smith,  who  is  a 
farmer  at  Stone  Mound,  Kansas. 

(358.)  CATHERINE  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Robert, 
was  born  in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  i6th,  1831. 

(360.)  FRANKLIN  ELLIS,  son  of  Robert,  was  born, 
in  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  26th,  1834. 


FIFTH  GENERATION. 

dilldren  of  Stepben  Bills  (119),  of  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  and 

tbeir  descendants.     Grandchildren  of  Benjamin,  8r. 

(az).    Great-K randcblldren  of  Reuben  (4),  and 

Sreat-Kreat-grrandcbildren  of  Rlcbard, 

of  Asbfield.   From  Nos.  362  to  374. 

(362.)  PRUDENCE  ELLIS,  eldest  daughter  of 
Stephen  and  Susannah  Coburn  Ellis,  was  born  in  Sem- 
pronius,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  13th,  1799.  She 
married  Charles  T.  Harris  in  Sempronius,  May  nth,  1817. 
She  removed  to  North  Bend,  Ohio  about  18 18.  She  died 
at  Fairview,  Randolph  Co.,  Ind.,  Sept.  15th,  1871.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Charles 
Thomas  Harris,  husband  of  Prudence  Ellis,  was  born  in 
Montreal,  Canada,  August  3rd,  1799,  and  died  at  Rochester, 
Fulton  Co.,  Ind.,  March  22nd,  1877.  His  religious  belief 
was  Universalism.  He  was  a  gun-smith  by  trade.  His 
parents  were:  Hopkins  Harris,  born  March  4th,  1776,  and 
Desiah  Niles,  born  in  1784.  Mr.  Hopkins,  Sr.,  was  a 
blacksmith,  and  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  was  also 
pastor  of  the  Campbellite  Church  at  Freeport,  Ind.  He 
died  in  1837  and  his  wife  in  1846. 


202 


Mr.  Charles  T.  and  Prudence  Ellis  Harris  had  eight 
children:  Susan,  Mary  Ann,  Charles  W.,  Stephen,  Dorr  K., 
Lester  E.,  Leucetta  D.  and  Eliza  Harris. 

Susan  Harris,  born  March  i8th,  1818,  in  North  Bend, 
Ohio,  married  Mr.  Reuben  C.  Niles,  at  Knightstown,  Ind., 
Sept.  6th,  1833.  Mr.  Reuben  C.  Niles  was  born  in  Cayuga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  17,  1812.  His  parents  removed  to  Troy, 
Perry  Co.,  Ind.,  in  1819.  About  the  time  of  his  marriage 
he  removed  to  Charlottesville,  Ind.,  where  they  now  live. 
He  is  in  the  hardware  trade. 

(364.)  MEHITABLE  ELLIS,  second  child  of 
Stephen  Ellis,  was  born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  21st, 
i8oo.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  a 
number  of  years  before  her  death,  which  took  place  July 
14th,  1874.  She  was  married  at  North  Bend,  Ohio,  May 
20th,  182 1  to 

(365.)  LEWIS  ROBINSON,  a  farmer  and  shoemaker. 
He  was  born  in  New  York,  June  loth,  1791.  He  was  a 
Baptist  from  his  youth  and  was  a  sincere  Christian  man. 
He  and  his  family  lived  many  years  on  the  same  farm  in 
Harrison  township,  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  where  he  died  May 
13th,  1843.  They  were  highly  respected  people,  beloved 
by  all.  Their  son  Erastus  Robinson  now  lives  on  the 
homestead.  His  mother  had  lived  on  the  same  farm  over 
fifty  years  at  the  time  of  her  death  in  1874. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson's  children  were:  Mary,  born 
1822  ;  Elias,  1825  ;  Rachel  N.,  1827  ;  Minerva,  1829,  died 
1873  ;  Martilla,  1834,  died  1863  ;  Eunice,  1838,  died  i860  ; 
Erastus,  1841. 

Mary  Robinson  married  Lorenzo  Carver  in  1838. 

Elias  Robinson  married  Sylvia  Ward. 

Rachel  M.  Robinson  married  Daniel  T.  Taylor  Jan.  4th, 
1846.  Mr.  Taylor  was  born  in  New  York,  Jan.  19th,  1823. 
He  is  a  farmer  and  carpenter.  Himself  and  wife  are 
Baptists.  They  live  at  Harrisburg,  Fayette  Co.,  Ind. 
There  children  were:  Elias  R.,  born  1846;  Alice,  1848,  died 


2  ©3 

185 1 ;  Ellen,  185 1,  died  1870;  Mary  A,  1853,  died  1874; 
Minerva,  1855,  died  1872;  Herbert  L,  1859;  Abbie,  1861, 
died  1884;  Irvin,  1870,  died  1871.  Elias  R.  and  Herbert  L. 
Taylor  live  in  Harrison  township. 

Minerva  Robinson  married  Jonathan  Ward.     (See  390). 

Martilla  Robinson  married  Lemuel  Leffingwell. 

Eunice  Robinson  married  Hiram  Hiltabidle. 

Erastus  Robinson  married  Frances  Smith  and  they  live 
on  the  homestead  of  his  parents  in  Harrison  township, 
Fayette  Co.,  Ind. 

(366.)  GRATEFUL  ELLIS,  third  daughter  of 
Stephen  Ellis,  was  born  at  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  28th, 
1803.  She  was  a  pure  and  noble  woman.  She  was 
married  Dec.  2nd,  1821  to  Casper  Trask,  probably  at  North 
Bend,  Ohio.  Mr.  Trask  was  born  Jan.  20th,  1801.  They 
lived  several  years  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  afterwards  in  Free- 
port,  Barry  Co.,  Mich.,  where  they  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Trask  were  Baptists.  He  died  May  25th,  1873,  ^^^  Mrs. 
Trask  Feb.  7th,  1883.  Mr.  Trask's  death  was  sad  and 
untimely.  He  was  in  the  field  where  his  men  were  draw- 
ing stumps  with  a  team  hitched  to  one  end  of  a  long  pole 
or  timber  and  the  other  end  made  fast  to  the  stump.  The 
chain  broke,  allowing  the  pole  to  spring  back  striking  him 
and  breaking  both  of  his  lower  limbs.  He  died  soon  after. 
His  wife  Grateful,  was  the  last  of  Stephen  Ellis'  children. 

Their  children  were:  Moulton  S.,  born  1823,  is  a  farmer 
and  lives  near  Dunkirk,  N.  Y. 

Clarissa,  born  1825,  married  Chester  P.  Dow,  and  lives 
at  Irving,  Barry  Co.,  Mich. 

Lettitia  S.,  born  1827,  married  Edward  L.  Cook.  They 
live  at  Putnam,  111. 

Howell  H.,  born  1829,  married  in  1848  Mary  L.  Stafford, 
and  they  live  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  Mr.  Howell  H. 
Trask  was  a  Union  soldier,  entered  the  service  Oct.  loth, 
1861,  as  Sergeant  of  Co.  B.,  13th  Michigan  Infantry.  Was 
made  Second  Lieut.  Jan.  20th,  1863,  and  First  Lieut.  April 


304 

25th,  1865.  He  was  wounded  at  Chickamauga,  Tenn.,  Sept. 
19th,  1863,  and  again  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  Dec.  I2th,  1864. 

Lois  Trask,  born  1832,  married  Jacob  G.  Drake. 

Edward  E.  Trask,  born  1834,  ^^^^  1840. 

Henry  V.  Trask,  born  1837,  married  Jennie  Stephenson 
in  1874.  ^^s  first  wife  Mary  M.  Young,  died  in  1870. 
He  married  her  in  1865.  Mr.  Henry  V.  Trask,  lives  at 
Salmanaca,  N.  Y.     He  is  a  Railroad  engineer. 

Amelia  A.  Trask,  born  1840,  married  Joshua  F.  Norton. 

De  Etta  E.  Trask,  born  1844,  married  Charles  B.  Lee 
in  1865,  and  Isaac  N.  Hubbard  in  1872.  Mr.  Lee  died  in 
1868.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard  live  about  two  miles  from 
Yankee  Springs  P.  O.,  Barry  Co.,  Mich. 

Rubie  S.  Trask,  born  1846,  married  Oliver  L.  Newton 
in  1872.    They  now  live  at  Freeport,  Barry  Co.,  Mich. 

(368.)  JONATHAN  ELLIS,  son  of  Stephen  Ellis,  was 
born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  14th,  1804.  He  married 
Charlotte  Jeffery,  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.  in  1829,  moved  to 
Illinois  in  1839,  ^"^  ^^^^  ^^  Waynesville,  Dewitt  Co.,  111.,  in 
1876. 

Their  children  were:  Louisa,  now  dead.  Alvah  who  is 
a  farmer  at  Wapella,  111.  William  A.,  now  dead,  Mary 
dead.     DianthaJ.,  Sarah  Ann  and  John  A. 

Diantha  J.,  and  John  A.  Ellis,  live  at  Sedgewick  City, 
Harvey  Co.,  Kansas.  Sarah  Ann,  married  Jasper  Buck, 
and  they  live  at  Waynesville,  111. 

(370.)  ABIGAIL  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Stephen,  was 
bom  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  22nd,  1806.  She  married 
Joshua  Wightman,  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  and  had  three 
children.    John,  Austin  and  Minor. 

Mr.  Austin  Wightman  lives  in  Padua,  McLean  Co.,  III. 
Mrs.  Abigail   Ellis   Wightman  was   a   member   of  the 
Christian  Church. 

(372.)  LESTER  ELLIS,  son  of  Stephen,  was  born  in 
Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  2nd,  181 1.      He  married  Sally  T. 


205 

Trowbridge,  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  about  1832.  Their 
children  were:  Diantha  J.,  Chester  Coburn,  and  Polly  Ellis, 
all  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind. 

Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  1807,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Levi 
and  Abigail  Trowbridge.  She  died  in  1879,  ^S^  7^  years 
and  six  months. 

Mr.  Lester  Ellis  died  June  26th,  1868.  Himself  and 
wife  were  Baptists  in  religious  belief. 

Diantha  J.  Ellis,  born  1833,  married  Robert  W.  Oldfield 
April  24th,  1856.  They  are  farmers  near  Rome,  Jeff.  Co., 
111.  Mr.  Oldfield  served  three  years  a  Union  soldier  against 
the  great  Rebellion.  Of  their  children,  Effie  Jane  was  born 
1857;  Elbert,  1859;  William  T.,  i860;  Robert  C,  1862; 
Lucius  Ellis,  1866;  Frank  C,  1868. 

Chester  Coburn  Ellis,  born  1839,  was  a  soldier  and  was 
killed  by  the  rebels  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Sept.  2nd,  1864.  He 
was  a  remarkably  bright  and  promising  young  man.  His 
death  was  a  great  grief  to  his  parents,  he  being  their  only 
son.     Such  is  the  fate  of  war. 

Polly  Ellis,  born  1843,  married  John  R.  Cunningham, 
Jan.  29th,  1866.  Their  children  are:  Carrie  May,  Lester 
Ellis,  Maude  Bell,  Silas  Arthur,  Theodore  Berthold,  Louie 
Bryson,  and  an  infant.  Mr.  C.  was  three  years  a  Union 
soldier.     They  live  near  Rome,  Jeff.  Co.,  111. 

(374,)  LOIS  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Stephen  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Sempronius,  Oct.  loth,  1814.  She  married 
John  Jeffery,  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  in  1835.  She  had  one 
child,  Jane,  who  married  a  Mr.  Jones.  Mrs.  Jeffrey  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church. 


2o6 

Clilldren  of  Moses  Ellis  (123),  of  Payette  Co.,  Ind.,  and  their 

tinsbands  and  'wives.     Grandchildren  of  Benjamin, 

Sr.  (as).    Great-iprandchildren  of  Reuben  (4), 

and  ipreat-Kreat-iprandchildren  of 

Richard  of  Ashfleld. 

Krom  jSo^to  390 . 

(380.)  LAURA  ELLIS,  eldest  child  of  Moses  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  in  1806.  She  was  about 
twelve  years  of  age  when  her  parents  moved  to  North 
Bend,  Ohio,  and  about  twenty-one  when  they  all  settled  in 
Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  near  Connersville.  March  nth,  1828, 
she  married  Josiah  Sutton,  a  physician.  They  lived  in 
Madison  Co.,  Ind.,  where  they  both  died.  They  were 
members  of  the  Christian  Church.  She  was  a  very  intelli- 
gent woman  with  a  remarkable  memory.  Mr.  Sutton  died 
in  1879,  aged  80  years.  His  wife  died  in  1881.  They  had 
two  children,  Elsie  and  Hester  Ann  Sutton. 

(382.)  MARY  JUDD  ELLIS,  second  daughter  of 
Moses  Ellis,  was  born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  1808.  About 
1830  she  married  Sutherland  Gard,  a  farmer  and  miller. 
He  was  born  in  1809.  They  were  members  of  the 
Christian  Church.  Mr.  Gard  died  in  1841,  in  or  near 
Connersville,  Ind.      They  had  five  children,  Lucetta,  born 

1831,  died  1850;   Samantha,  1833;  Harriet,  1835;  Adeline, 
1838;  and  Henry,  1840. 

About  1843,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Ellis  Gard  married  for  her 
second  husband  Mr.  James  James,  a  farmer.  Mr.  James 
was  born  in  North  Carolina.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  Mr.  James  and  family  moved  to  Illinois 
in  1859.  He  died  in  1867,  in  Marion  Co.,  111.  In  1882 
Mrs.  James  went  to  Waterville,  Minnesota,  to  live  with  a 
daughter  and  'died  there  in  April,  1886.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  had  two  children,  Laura  Ann,  born  1844,  ^^^^  1861; 
and  Moses  1847. 

(384.)  LEWIS  ELLIS,  only  son  of  Moses  Elllis,  was 
born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  April  nth,  181 1.      Dec.  30th, 

1832,  he  was  married  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  to  Samantha 
Thomas.    She  was  born  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  3rd, 


207 

i8ii.  They  both  now  reside  on  a  farm  near  Connersville, 
Ind.,  and  have  had  i6  children. 

Caroline  Ellis,  their  eldest,  was  born  Nov.  nth,  1833. 
She  married  Charles  R.  Williams,  Aug.  2nd,  185 1.  They 
have  one  daughter  Hattie. 

Lucy,  born  June  5th,  1835,  married  J.  A,  Leffingwell, 
Oct.  2nd,  1853. 

Oliver  B.,  born  Aug.  2nd,  1836,  died  Aug.  24th,  1837. 

Elvin,  born  March  17th,  1838,  died  July  29th,  1839. 

Jasper  D.,  born  Nov.  15th,  1839,  ^^^^  ^^^'  26th,  1850, 
killed  by  a  horse  running  away. 

Emma,  born  Jan.  29th,  1841,  died  April  7th,  1841. 

Minor,  born  Jan.  25th,  1842,  died  Sept.  21st,  1863,  of 
camp  diarrhoea  at  New  Orleans.     He  was  a  Union  soldier. 

Melvin,  born  Nov.  loth,  1843,  married  Harriet  King, 
May  i6th,  1866.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  King, 
born  in  Aug.  1843,  and  raised  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.  They 
have  two  children,  Lewis,  born  June  1868,  and  Irene,  born 
Sept.,  1870.     Mr.  Ellis  and  wife  are  Baptists. 

Nancy,  born  April  25th,  1845,  died  Feb.  22nd,  1870. 

Adaline  and  Angeline,  born  Aug.  12th,  1846.  The  first 
died  Oct.  ist,  1861,  and  the  last  Dec.  i6th,  1858. 

Mary,  born  Nov.  6th,  1848,  died  Nov.  20th,  1848. 

Eliza,  born  April  loth,  1850,  married  John  Payne,  Jan. 
7th,  1870.  Mr..  Payne  was  born  in  Fayette  Co.,  Oct.  30th, 
1842.  He  was  a  son  of  Thomas  T.  and  Eleanor  Rees 
Payne.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Payne  have  seven  children, 
Wm.  T.,  Edwin  C,  Lucia,  Charles  E.,  Daisy,  Edna  and 
Mamie. 

Ellen,  born  Oct.  i6th,  1852. 

Edwin  W.,  born  Oct.  i6th,  1852,  married  Ada  S.  Budd, 
Oct.  2nd,  1883.  He  lived  with  his  father  on  the  farm  until 
1880,  when  he  began  the  study  of  medicine.  Previous  to 
this  he  had  studied  surveying  and  was  elected  county  sur- 
veyor several  terms.  He  graduated  in  medicine  at  the 
college  in  Indianapolis  in  1882,  and  began  practice  at  Con- 
nersville.    In  1883  he  settled  at  Falmouth,  Fayette  Co.,  Ind., 


zo8 

where  he  took  the  practice  of  his  preceptor,  Dr.  Jacob 
Redding,  and  where  he  now  resides.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  O.  Budd,  a  prominent  man  of  Muncie, 
Ind.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  have  one  child.  Ivy,  born  Aug. 
22nd,  1884. 

Hewett  T.,  born  Aug.  29lh,  1854,  "tarried  Ida  Zellar, 
Feb.  Sih,  1882.  She  was  born  in  Connersville,  July  6th, 
1857.  They  have  one  child,  Zellar,  born  Jan,  9th,  1883. 
Mr.  Ellis  is  in  the  livery  business  in  Connersville. 

(386.)  ELIZA  ANN  ELLIS,  daugher  of  Moses,  was 
born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  in  1813.  She  married  William 
Cole,  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind.,  1834.  ^^'  ^°^^  ^^^  ^  shoe- 
maker. Himself  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.  They  moved  to  Madison  Co.,  Ind.,  where  Mrs. 
Cole  died  in  1842.  She  had  three  children,  Angeline, 
Lewis  E.  and  Laura. 

In  1844  Mr.  Cole  married  Matilda  Floyd,  and  removed 
to  Mason  Co.,  111.,  where  he  now  lives. 

(388.)  HESTER  ANN  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Moses 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  April  24th,  1816.  In 
1835  she  married  Philander  Thomas  in  Fayette  Co.,  Ind. 
Mr.  Thomas  was  a  farmer  and  a  member  of  the  Christian 
Church.  He  was  born  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  i8ri, 
and  died  in  Feb.,  1865,  at  Centralia,  111.,  where  his  widow 
and  several  children  now  reside.  They  had  eight  children  : 
Leroy,  born  1836;  Mary,  1839;  Ann,  1841;  Lewis,  1844, 
died  1863;  Oliver  H.,  1849;  Avery  C,  1852;  Irvin,  1855  and 
Marshall,  1856. 

Oliver  H.  Thomas  is  a  dentist  and  lives  in  Pendleton, 
Ind. 

(390.)  ANNIE  S.ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Moses 
Ellis,  was  born  at  North  Bend,  Ohio,  in  1822.  She  married 
Jonathan  Ward  and  had  two  children — Ellen  and  Edwin. 
Mr.  Ward  was  a  farmer  and  a  Baptist.  Mrs.  Ward  died  in 
1849.  Mr.  Ward  married  for  his  second  wife  Minerva 
Robinson,  a  daughter  of  Mehitable  Ellis  Robinson,  (364). 
Mr.  Ward  was  a  Union  soldier,  a  brave,  noble  and  highly 
respected  man. 


209 

Cbildren  of  Benjamin  Ellis.  Jr.  (126^,  of  Groton,  Cayusa  Co., 

N.    W,   and    tlielr    i!«-ives   and    hnsbandH.      Grand- 

cblldren  of  Benjamin,  Sr.  (22).    Great-^rand- 

cblldren  of  Reuben,  (4)  and  grreat-Kreat- 

srrandctalldren   of  Rlcbard   Ellis, 

of  Asbfield.      From  J92 

to  399. 

(392.)  RHODA  ELLIS,  eldest  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Ellis,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  30th,  1813. 
She  died  July  9th,  1833.     Unmarried. 

(392.)  MYRON  ELLIS,  efdest  son  of  Benjamin  Ellis, 
Jr.,  was  born  in  Sempronius,  Aug.  20th,  181 7,  and  died  in 
Groton,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  13th,  1858.  He  was  a  miller  by  trade 
and  a  lawyer  by  profession  and  practiced  law  the  latter 
years  of  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  uncommon  memory  and 
intelligence.  His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Zurilda  Curtis,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children,  Augustus,  Benjamin  E.,  Cassius 
M.  and  Lycurgus.  Mrs.  Ellis  died  in  1848,  and  Mr.  Ellis 
married  for  his  second  wife  Miss  Nancy  Dunks  and  four 
more  children  were  born,  Rhoda,  Martha,  Helen  and  Emma. 
After  Mr.  EUis'  death,  his  widow  married  a  Mr.  Hubart, 
and  they  now  live  in  Locke,  N.  Y.  About  1843  Mr. 
Myron  Ellis  and  his  first  wife  moved  to  the  Fox  River 
country  in  Illinois,  where  Mrs.  Ellis  died  at  Aurora. 
Soon  after  Mr.  Ellis  married  his  second  wife,  they  re- 
turned to  Groton,  N.  Y. ;  this  was  in  1851. 

Of  Mr.  Ellis'  children,  Augustus  Ellis  went  west  many 
years  ago,  and  no  further  report  of  him  is  given. 

Benjamin  Eber  Ellis,  was  born  in  Owasco,  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Nov.  2ist,  1839.  ^"  1859  ^^  returned  to  Illinois, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  married  Eliza  J.  Felts, 
at  Carbondale,  Illinois,  May  20th,  1869.  Mrs.  Ellis 
was  born  Aug.  5th,  1850.  She  was  a  daughter  of  George 
W.,  and  Rebecca  Ellis  Felts.  (Rebecca  Ellis  was  a 
daughter  of  Arthur  Ellis,  of  Belleville,  111.  Her  brothers 
and  sisters  were:  Maria,  Francis,  Jane,  Thomas,  George, 
Albert  and  Edward.  It  does  not  appear  that  these  Ellises 
are  descendants  of  Richard  Ellis  of  Ashfield,  Mass.) 
Benjamin  Eber  Ellis  and  wife  have  four  children:  Emma, 
born  1872;  Edgar,   1875;  Albert,  1881;  and  Franklin,  1883. 


Cassius  M.  Ellis,  son  of  Myron,  is  a  farmer  at  Red-House, 
Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  Union  soldier,  and 
taken  prisoner  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  17th,  1864,  and 
was  conveyed  to  Andersonville,  Ga.,  that  infamous  prison 
where  thousands  of  Union  soldiers  were  confined  and 
starved  to  death.  Here  he  found  his  brother  Lycurgus  Ellis 
who  had  arrived  there  two  days  previously.  Mr.  Cassius 
Ellis,  after  a  few  months  escaped  from  Andersonville,  and 
was  in  the  swamps  of  South  Carolina  for  thirty  days.  After 
over  200  miles  travel  he  reached  the  blockade  squadron  off 
Charleston,  and  was  transferred  to  New  York  City,  where 
he  was  in  hospital  for  some  time. 

Lycurgus  Ellis  was  a  Union  soldier,  and  a  prisoner  at 
Andersonville,  Ga.,  as  stated  above.  He  was  stripped  of 
his  clothing,  blankets  and  cooking  utensils,  and  although  at 
first  in  excellent  health  was  quickly  reduced  by  the  starvation 
practiced  on  all  Union  prisoners.  In  the  latter  part  of 
August  he  was  attacked  with  fever,  and  died  on  Sept.  7th, 
1864.  He  was  a  very  bright  and  promising  young  man, 
ever  true  to  virtue  and  honor,  and  was  greatly  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  him. 

Of  Mr.  Myron  Ellis'  children,  by  his  second  wife  Nancy 
Dunks,  Rhoda  married  Charles  Niles,  and  they  live  in 
Locke,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  Helen  married  Mr.  Maine, 
and  they  live  at  Cortland,  N.  Y. 

(395.)  LEWIS  R.  ELLIS,  son  of  Benjamin,  Jr.,  was 
born  in  Sempronius,  June  5th,  1822.  He  learned  the 
miller's  trade  with  his  father  and  is  engaged  in  that  business 
at  North  Rose,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  resides.  In 
early  life  he  was  a  Methodist  minister,  but  gave  up  preach- 
ing several  years  ago.  He  married  Elizabeth  Yale  of 
Homer,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two  children  :  Alida  and 
Albert. 

(397.)  AMANDA  M.  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Benjamin,  Jr., 
was  born  in  Sempronius,  Aug.  nth,  1826.  She  married 
Mr.  Filander  H.  Robinson  May  13th,  1849.  Mr.  Robinson 
is  a  miller  and  resides  in  Groton,  N.  Y.     He  is  proprietor 


of  the  "  Dew  Drop  Mills."  He  was  born  in  Virgil,  Cort- 
land Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1821.  They  have  had  two  children: 
Edmund  E.  and  Nathan  Lavere. 

Edmund  Ellis  Robinson  was  born  in  Groton,  Sept.  22nd, 
1851.  He  is  married  and  has  three  children.  He  resides  at 
Ithaca,  N.  Y.  He  has  been  train  dispatcher  for  the  Lehigh 
Valley  Railroad  many  years,  and  is  also  chief  of  the  fire 
department  of  Ithaca.  He  married  Alice  Wyckoff  at 
Moravia,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  3d,  1876.  She  was  born  at  Spring- 
port,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  17th,  1857.  Their  children 
are  Winnifred,  born  1879;  Frederick,  1881;  N.  Lavere, 
1883.     All  born  in  Ithaca. 

Nathan  Lavere  Robinson  was  born  in  Groton,  June 
i6th,  1856.     He  died  June  23rd,  1861. 

(399.)  NATHAN  H.  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of 
Benjamin  Ellis  of  Groton,  was  born  Oct.  9th,  1834.  ^^  ^^ 
a  miller,  and  run  the  mills  at  Ludlowville,  Cayuga  Co.,  for 
many  years.  He  now  owns  and  runs  the  "  Old  Red  Mills  " 
at  Owego,  N.  Y.,  where  he  resides.  He  married  Miss 
Sarah  Bolles  in  Utica,  N.  Y.,  in  1867.  She  was  born  in 
Litchfield,  Conn.,  in  1833.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John 
Bolles.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  have  one  daughter,  Edna,  born 
1868. 


Cblldren   of   Reuben  Ellis  (128),  of  Ctaautanqna  Co.,  B(.  v., 

and  tbeir  'wives  and  husbands.     Grandcbildren  of 

Benjamin  Sr.  (^22.)     Great  -  grrandcblldren  of 

Reuben    (4),    and    Kreat  -  sreat  -  g^rand- 

cbildren  of  Richard  Cllls, 

of  Astafield. 

From  Kos.  401  to  420. 

(401.)    OLITET  ELLIS,  eldest   son   of   Reuben,   was 

born  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  181 2.  March  3rd,  1839,  he 
married  Almira  Powers,  and  they  now  live  in  Harmony 
township,  (Panama  P.  O.),  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr. 
Ellis  is  a  farmer.  They  have  two  children,  Eveline  C,  born 
1840,  and  Adelaide  R.,  born  1845.  The  latter  lives  in 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 


212 


(403.)  HENRY  K.  ELLIS,  second  son  of  Reuben, 
was  born  in  Cayuga  Co.  in  1813.  He  married  Eliza  Acker 
in  1837.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  a  Baptist.  He  died  in 
Murray,  Orleans  Co.,  in  1853,  leaving  a  son,  Henry  R.,  and 
four  daughters. 

(407.)  DANIEL  ELLIS,  third  son  of  Reuben,  was  born 
in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1817.  April  19th,  1843,  he 
married  Philinda  L.  Adams  and  settled  on  a  farm  of  1 16  acres 
in  Panama,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  are  Baptists  in 
religious  belief.  They  have  two  sons,  the  eldest,  Francis  A. 
Ellis,  is  on  a  farm  of  his  own  near  Panama.  Their  son 
Newton  D.  Ellis  has  been  an  invalid  all  his  life.  Mr.  Daniel 
Ellis  is  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  church  and  beheves  in  living 
his  religion  every  day  in  the  year.  When  two  years  of  age 
his  parents  moved  from  Cayuga  Co.  to  Orleans  Co.,  and 
when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age  they  settled  in  Clymer, 
Chautauqua  Co.     Mrs.  Philinda  Ellis  died  March  7,  1887. 

(409)  EDMUND  ELLIS,  fourth  son  of  Reuben,  was 
born  June  28th,  1819.  He  married  Roxana  Fay,  Sept.  i8th, 
1842.  They  had  five  children.  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  farmer  in 
Portland,  Chautauqua  Co.  He  was  a  Baptist.  He  died  Oct. 
6th,  1857.  His  children  were  HoUis  Fay,  Henry  Reuben, 
Lucien  Elijah,  Charles  Edmund  and  Lillie  Phebe. 

Henry  R.  Ellis,  born  1846,  resides  in  Detroit,  Mich. 
He  is  a  physician. 

Lucien  E.  Ellis,  born  1850,  lives  in  Detroit.  He  is  a 
physician  and  surgeon  of  eminence.  His  home  is  on  Welch 
avenue  in  the  western  part  of  Detroit. 

Lillie  Phebe  Ellis,  born  1856,  now  resides  with  her 
mother  and  brother  Henry  on  Maybury  avenue,  Detroit. 
They  are  all  very  highly  respected  people. 

Mr.  Edmund  Ellis  died  Oct.  6th,  1857,  in  Portland,  N.  Y. 

(411.)  LOIS  E.  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Reuben,  was 
born  in  182 1.  She  married  William  R.  Davis  and  had  four 
children,  the  first  three  born  in  Panama,  N.  Y.,  and  the  last 
in  Wisconsin,  near  Winona,  where  they  lived  many  years. 
Mrs.  Davis  died  in  1881. 


213 

(413.)  LYDIA  E.  ELLIS  was  born  in  1824.  She 
married  Horatio  R.  Palmer  Jan,  15th,  185 1,  and  they  lived 
in  Chautauqua,  N.  Y.,  for  a  time,  when  they  removed  to 
Bradtville,  Grant  Co.,  Wisconsin,  where  Mrs.  Palmer  died 
in  1862  and  Mr.  Palmer  in  1864.  They  had  four  children, 
Almarion  S.,  Emeline  B.,  Alfred  S.  and  Martin.  The  last 
two  died  young. 

Almarion  S.  Palmer,  born  1852,  married  Lydia  Luce  in 
1878  in  Fennimore,  Wis.     They  had  one  child. 

Emeline  B.  Palmer,  was  born  1854,  married  Edson  H. 
Hoyt  Aug.  13th,  1876,  at  Clymer,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  they  now  live  on  a  farm.  They  have  two  children, 
Arthur  H.  and  Effie  Hoyt. 

Mr.  Horatio  R.  Palmer  was  a  tanner  and  currier.  He 
enlisted  in  the  Union  army  in  1863  and  died  the  next  year  of 
disease  in  the  service. 

(415.)  EDWIN  M.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Orleans  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  1825.  He  married  Diana  Green  Sept.  i6th,  1846, 
and  they  now  reside  at  Lovell's  Station,  Erie  Co.,  Pa. 
They  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  living. 
(See  page  49.)     Mr.  Ellis  is  a  mechanic.     He  is  a  Baptist. 

(417.)  ELIZABETH  ELLIS  married  Willis  TuUar, 
July  4th,  1849.     Both  died  childless. 

(418.)  REUBEN  ERASTUS  ELLIS,  son  of  Reuben, 
was  born  in  Clymer,  N.  Y.,  May  15th,  1832.  He  married 
Helen  Freeman  Sept.  24th,  1854.  Their  children  are,  Ida 
E.,  George  Elmer  and  Willie  Alton  Ellis.  They  all  reside 
in  Westfield,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 

(420.)  ALFRED  0.  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Reuben, 
of  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  was  born  Oct.  17th,  1835.  He 
married  Helen  M.  Skidmore  in  1858.  He  was  a  resident  of 
Portland,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  a  mechanic  and 
builder.  He  was  accidentally  killed  on  the  railroad  near 
Brocton,  N.  Y.,  in  1885.  ^^  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  Baptist  church  at  West  Portland,  Chautauqua  Co.  He 
was  a  first-lieutenant  in  the  112th  N.  Y.  Regiment,  a  brave 
soldier  and  an  estimable  citizen  of  genial  manner  and  noble 
qualities.     He  had  seven  children.     (See  names  on  page  50.) 


214 


Clilldren  of  Abel  direst  Ellis  (136),   of  Ripley,   Cbautauqwa 

Co.,  N.  v.,  and  tbelr  -wives  and  bnsbands.     Grand- 

cbildren  of  Jonatban  (26),  arreat-srrand- 

cbildren  of   Reuben  (4),  and 

Brreat-Kreat-STrandcblldren  of  Rlcbard  Bills,  of  Asbfleld. 

Prom  444  to  453* 

(444.)  VAN  R.  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Abel  West  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  24,  1833.  In  1836 
his  father  settled  in  Ripley,  Chautauqua  Co.  He  died  in 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  Dec.  19th,  1877.  His  widow,  Mrs. 
Laura  Ellis,  and  two  children  were  living  in  Memphis  at  last 
accounts. 

(447.)  CYRUS  ELLIS,  son  of  Abel  West  Ellis,  was 
bom  Dec.  7th,  1837,  in  Ripley,  Chautauqua  Co.,  where  he 
now  resides  on  a  farm.  He  married  Jennie  S.  Hayes,  at 
Painesville,  Ohio,  Dec.  i6th,  1874.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Fred.  H.,  born  July  25th,  1876,  and  Emma  Maude, 
bom  June  15th,  1878. 

^449.)  AMARILLA  ELLIS  was  born  in  Ripley,  Feb. 
5th,  1839.  She  died  Dec.  20th,  1858,  of  brain  fever,  just  as 
she  was  about  to  graduate  at  the  Westfield  Academy. 

(461.)  SARAH  J.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Ripley,  Sept. 
28th,  1841.  She  married  George  D.  Willobee  in  1867. 
They  removed  to  Cedar  Run,  Grand  Traverse  Co.,  Mich., 
where  she  died  April  19th,  1884,  leaving  five  children. 

(463.)  MARY  ANN  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Abel 
West  Ellis,  was  born  in  Ripley,  Oct.  15th,  1843.  She  mar- 
ried Daniel  Buckner,  in  Westfield,  Chautauqua  Co.,  Jan. 
19th,  1875,  and  has  one  daughter,  Nellie  M.  They  reside  at 
Crowland,  Ontario,  Canada. 


215 

Ctalldren  of  Jobn  AUls  Ellis  (138),  of  Conneant,  Oliio,  and 

tbelr  -wives   and    husbands.       Grandcblldren    of 

Jonathan   (26),   g^reat-g^randcblldren   of 

Reuben  (4),  and  grreat-Kreat- 

srrandcbildren  of  Rlcbard  Ellis,  of  Asbfield. 

Prom  455  to  465- 

(455.)  WILLIAM  AVERY  ELLIS  was  born  in  Rip- 
ley, Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  22nd,  1833.  He  married 
Maria  Holmes,  Dec.  24th,  1856.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Maria  Smith  Holmes,  who  came  from  England 
just  before  the  birth  of  their  daughter  Maria.  They  settled  in 
Saybrook,  near  Ashtabula,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Holmes  died  in  1866. 
Mr.  Holmes  still  lives  on  the  farm  he  purchased  in  1837. 
Mr.  Ellis  settled  in  Ashtabula,  where  he  carried  on  for 
twenty-two  years  a  plow  handle  factory.  In  April, 
1886,  he  disposed  of  this  and  went  to  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
where  he  purchased  an  interest  in  a  furniture  establishment 
and  where  he  now  resides.* 

Mr..  Ellis  has  five  children,  Hattie  Manella,  born  1857, 
was  married  in  Ashtabula  Nov.  22nd,  1883,  to  Henry  Elias 
Smith,  of  Conneaut.  They  have  one  daughter,  Florence 
Manella  Smith,  born  April  3rd,  1885,  and  a  son,  William 
Ellis  Smith,  born  Dec.  31st,  1886. 

Fannie  F.,  born  1861,  is  a  teacher  in  the  Union  school  in 
Ashtabula. 

Minnie  M.,  born  1866,  is  a  teacher  in  Plymouth,  Ohio. 

William  W.  and  Amy  F.  live  with  their  parents. 

(457.)  ORSON  H.  ELLIS  was  born  Nov.  8th,  1835.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Woodward  July  6th,  1856.  He  resides  in 
Conneaut,  Ohio.  They  have  had  two  children,  Jennie  and 
John  Frank  Ellis.    Jennie  died  several  years  ago. 

(459.)  MARY  JANE  ELLIS  was  born  Dec.  31st,  1837, 
in  Ripley,  N.  Y  She  married  Robert  Stewart  in  1862. 
She  died  May  8th,  1865. 

*He  writes  under  date  of  Dec.  21st,  1886,  "  that  on  the  6th  inst.,  his  father.  John  A.  Ellis 
(138),  of  Conneaut,  Ohio,  walked  to  the  post  office,  about  one  mile,  and  while  there  was 
stricken  with  apoplexy  and  died  at  once.  That  morning  he  was  feeling  more  jocular  and 
lively  than  usual.''  The  latter  is  a  peculiarity,  often  noticed  in  cases  of  the  sudden  departure 
of  good  people  to  the  other  life.  It  seems  as  if  the  heavens  opened  and  the  angels  were  wait- 
ing to  receive  and  welcome  their  kind  to  the  happy  shores  of  eternity. 


2l6 

(461.)  JOHN  y.  ELLIS  was  born  Nov.  19th,  1842,  in 
Conneaut,  Ohio.  He  married  Mary  Jane  Bruce  Dec.  23rd, 
1863,  at  Conneaut,  Ohio.  Her  father  was  Alanson  Bruce, 
of  Springfield,  Pa.,  and  her  mother  Sarah  Sargeant  Bruce. 
Mr.  Ellis'  children  are  Mary,  Loretta,  Edith,  Bertha  and 
John  Alanson.  Mr.  Ellis  is  a  machinist  and  runs  a  steam 
pump  of  the  railroad  near  Conneaut. 

(463.)  JULIA  FRANCES  ELLIS  was  born  Oct.  19th, 
1845.  She  married  William  B.  Cole  and  they  now  Hve  in 
Jackson,  Tenn.  They  have  one  child  living,  Archie  C. 
Cole,  born  1875  ^"  Erie,  Pa. 

(465.)  SARAH  ALICE  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  John 
A.  Ellis,  was  born  in  Conneaut,  Ohio,  Feb.  17th,  1850.  She 
married  John  H.  Hart  in  Conneaut  May  loth,  187 1.  They  now 
live  in  Central  City,  Nebraska.  Mr.  Hart  was  born  Aug. 
5th,  1844,  at  North  East,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.  Their  children  are, 
Bertrand  Ellis,  born  1872,  Genevieve  1874,  Pearl  M.  1877, 
and  Grace  Ellen  1880. 


Cliildren  of  Elder  Asapta  Cbllson  Ellis  (146 ),  of  Clearfleld  Co. , 
Pa.,  aud  ttielr  'wives  and  husbands.    GrandcblU 
dren  of  Dea.  Richard  Ellis,  1291,  ot  Ellis- 
burs,   Pa.     Great -sTTAndchildren   of 
Reuben  (4),  and  g^reat-grreat- 
S^andchlldren   of 
Richard  Ellis,  of  Ashfleld.     See  no.  48s,  pasre  29 

(482.)  CHARLES  ELLIS,  was  born  in  Delmar,  Tioga 
Co.,  Pa.,  Jan.  15th,  1815.  He  now  lives  at  Stuart,  Holt  Co., 
Nebraska.  He  is  a  farmer  and  unmarried.  He  was  the 
eldest  son  of  Asaph  Chilson  Ellis  (146.)  The  latter  was 
named  after  his  mother's  father,  Asaph  Chilson,  of  Con- 
way, Mass. 

HORACE  ELLIS,  son  of  Asaph,  was  born  at  Delmar 
Nov.  24,  1817,  and  died  in  1822. 

RICHARD  SPENCER  ELLIS,  son  of  Asaph,  was  born 
Sept.  17,  1821,  at  Delmar.     He  now  resides  at  Mahaffey, 


217 

Clearfield  Co.,  Pa.  He  married  Julia  Ann  Avery,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Elder  Benjamin  G.  Avery  (see  page  149,)  in  1839. 
They  have  seven  children.  Horace  A.  born  1840.  He  was 
a  Union  soldier,  was  twice  wounded  and  was  one  of  thirty- 
seven  to  whom  Congress  gave  a  medal  for-  special  bravery. 
He  was  a  Methodist  in  religion.  He  died  in  Wisconsin  un- 
married. 

Asaph  A.,  born  Aug.  nth,  1843,  was  a  soldier  all 
through  the  Rebellion.  He  married  Hannah  McCartney  and 
had  three  children.  He  went  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  died 
in  1870  of  consumption  contracted  in  the  army.  He  was  a 
Methodist. 

Amanda  was  born  irt  June,  1845,  and  is  married  to 
Samuel  Markley  and  they  live  at  Ostend,  Clearfield  Co., 
Pa.  Mr.  M.  is  a  farmer,  was  a  soldier,  and  is  a  Methodist. 
They  have  seven  children. 

John  was  born  in  June,  1847.  He  was  a  soldier  and 
was  killed  at  Fort  Stevens  in  1864. 

Warren  B.  was  born  in  May,  1849,  is  married  and  lives 
at  Mahaffey,  Pa. 

Maria  was  born  in  March,  1851,  married  P.  R.  Miller, 
a  farmer  at  Decker's  Point,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa. 

Deroy  was  born  about  i860,  lives  with  his  parents. 

CHAUNCY  A.  ELLIS  was  born  Nov.  30th,  1821,  at 
Delmar.  He  was  a  soldier,  wounded,  and  draws  a  pension. 
He  married  Sarah  Ann  Bell,  daughter  of  Maj.  James  R. 
Bell,  and  had  seven  children,  of  whom  four  are  now  Uving. 
They  were  Baptists.  Mrs.  Ellis  died  May  5th,  1886.  She 
was  born  Dec.  ist,  1825.  Mr.  Ellis  now  lives  with  his  son- 
in-law  Samuel  Stearns,  at  Purchase  Line,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa. 

The  children  of  Chauncy  A.  Ellis  were  Louisa,  born 
1849,  Orlando  S.  1851,  Rebecca  A.  1852,  Sarah  Lucy  1855, 
died  the  same  year.  Hannah  E.  1856,  John  C.  1858,  died 
1882.  Emily  A.  i860,  died  1880.  Mr.  Ellis  served  nearly 
three  years  in  the  late  war  and  was  severely  wounded,  for 
which  he  receives  a  pension.  He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 


2l8 

MOSES  E.  ELLIS5  son  of  Asaph,  was  born  Dec.  6th, 
1823,  at  Delmar,  and  died  in  1845.  He  was  a  licensed 
Baptist  minister,  and  a  very  bright  and  promising  young 
man. 

HARRIET  AMANDA  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Asaph, 
was  born  March  5th,  1826,  at  Wellsboro,  Pa.,  where  her 
father  was  at  that  time  living  and  teaching  in  the  academy. 
She  married  Samuel  Sunderlin  Dec.  i8th,  1843.  Mr.  S. 
was  a  grandson  of  Sergeant  Samuel  Sunderlin,  of  the  Ver- 
mont Rangers  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  They  live  at 
Meig's  Mills,  Clearfield  Co.  They  have  had  thirteen 
children,  all  living  but  one.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  are  Methodists 
and  farmers. 

LUCY  ELIZA  ELLIS  was  born  Sept.  9th,  1828,  at 
Wellsboro.  She  married  Charles  Kingsbury  and  lives  in 
Stuart,  Nebraska.  They  have  five  children.  Mr.  K.  owns 
a  large  farm.     They  are  Baptists.  *' 

ORLANDO  AARON  ELLIS,  son  of  Asaph  C,  was  born 
near  Tioga  village,  Pa.,  Feb.  14th,  1831.  When  four  years 
of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  about  a 
year  thereafter  moved  on  a  raft  down  the  Allegany  river  to 
Sharpsburg,  Pa.,  a  few  miles  above  Pittsburg.  A  few 
months  later  they  settled  in  Bell  Township,  Clearfield  Co., 
Pa.  This  was  Nov.  5th,  1835.  They  settled  on  a  farm  of 
500  acres  of  wild  pine  and  hemlock  land.  Their  nearest 
neighbor  was  one  and  a  half  miles  away,  and  they  passed 
through  many  hardships.  The  nearest  store  was  sixteen 
miles  distant,  and  the  school  house  four  miles  off. 

Mr.  Ellis'  mother,  Amanda  Spencer  Ellis,  was  a  gradu- 
ate of  a  High  school  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  took  great 
pains  to  train  and  educate  her  children.  The  main  occupa- 
tion consisted  in  clearing  the  farm  and  making  lumber, 
which  was  rafted  down  the  Susquehanna  river  to  market. 
The  streams  were  well  supplied  with  fish  and  the  forests 
with  bears,  deer,  panthers,  turkeys  and  other  game  in  abund- 
ance. In  1843  Mr.  Asaph  C.  Ellis  built  a  saw  mill  on  the 
Susquehanna. 


219 

Mr.  Asaph  C.  Ellis  was  a  very  enterprising  man,  just 
fitted  for  his  day.  Like  many  of  the  Ellises  of  those  times 
he  was  ever  pushing  out  into  some  new  venture. 

In  April,  1844,  Mrs.  Amanda  Ellis  died,  in  the  forty- 
seventh  year  of  her  age,  leaving  a  large  family.  She  was 
an  ardent  Christian  woman  of  uncommon  virtues  and  talent. 
It  is  said  that  she  was  never  known  to  be  angry.  She  was 
married  to  Mr.  Ellis  April  7th,  1813.  In  December,  1846,  Mr. 
Asaph  C.  Ellis  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Fairbanks,  of  East 
Mahoning,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Ezra 
Warner,  of  New  Lebanon,  N.  Y.  She  was  an  estimable 
woman.  She  was  a  Baptist.  Mr.  Asaph  C.  Ellis  died  April 
30th,  1853,  aged  about  70  years.  He  was  a  deacon  in  the 
Baptist  church  and  held  a  license  to  preach.  He  was  an 
active,  earnest  Christian,  and  a  scholarly  man  and  a  justice 
over  fourteen  years.       His  last  wife  died  in  1855. 

Mr.  Orlando  A,  Ellis  was  married  Sept.  30th,  1855,  to 
Louisa  Lawrence,  in  Clearfield  Co.  She  was  15  years  of 
age  and  her  husband  24  when  they  embarked  on  the  ship  of 
matrimony.     They  have  had  eight  children. 

Lucy  Marie,  born  1856,  died  1857. 

Ira  Chauncy,  born  1858.  He  is  a  wagon  and  carriage 
maker  in  Marion.     He  married  Mary  Cramer. 

Julia  Ann  Ellis,  born  i860,  married  John  Barr  and  had 
four  children. 

Ida  May  Ellis,  born  1862,  died  1877. 

Olmer  Ripley  Ellis,  born  1866  ;  is  a  wagon  and  car- 
riage maker,  working  with  his  brother  Ira,  in  Marion, 
Indiana  Co.,  Pa.  ^    _^ — 

Hattie  Jane  Ellis,  born  1868.  Is  a  graduate  of  the  Day- 
ton High  school. 

Charles  Francis  Ellis,  born  1872.  Will  graduate  at 
the  above  school  in  1888. 

Harry  McGregor  Ellis,  born  1876;  lives  at  home. 

Mr.  Orlando  A.  Ellis  was  a  Union  soldier  in  Co.  A,  6ist 
Regt.  Pa.  Vol.       He   enlisted    in    Aug.  1861.       He  served 


his  country  well  and  faithfully  and  was  wounded  three  times. 
He  was  in  the  battles  of  Fair  Oaks,  Chantilly,  Antietam, 
Williamsport,  Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg  and  the  Wil- 
derness. He  lost  his  right  arm  from  a  gunshot  wound. 
He  has  been  a  town  constable  for  14  years  and  deputy  sherifi' 
lor  six  years  in  Indiana  Co.,  and  for  one  term  assistant  ser- 
geant-at-arms  of  the  house  of  representatives  at  Harrisburg, 
the  State  capital. 

Mr.  Ellis  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  30 
years.  He  now  resides  at  Marion,  (Brady  P.  O.),  Indiana 
Co.,  Pa. 

PLINY  POWERS  ELLIS,  son  of  Asaph  C,  was  born 
near  Tioga,  Pa.,  July  14th,  1833.  He  was  a  soldier,  was 
severely  wounded  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Va.,  and 
lay  on  the  field  eight  days  before  being  cared  for.  He  was 
discharged  but  re-enlisted  and  wounded  again.  He  draws 
a  pension.  He  is  married  ;  is  a  farmer  in  Bloomer,  Chip- 
pewa Co.,  Wis..     Is  a  Universalist  in  religious  belief. 

HANNAH  JULIA  ELLIS  was  born  July  13th,  1836,  in 
Clearfield  Co.,  Pa.  She  married  Daniel  W.  Fairbanks, 
who  enlisted,  was  taken  prisoner  and  starved  to  death  in  a 
rebel  prison.  His  widow  married  Dec.  loth,  1870,  Samuel 
Barker,  an  engineer.  The}"^  are  Methodists.  They  live 
in  Sykesville,  Jefferson  Co.,  Pa.  They  have  one  child, 
Richard  E.,  now  living. 

URIAH  SPENCER  ELLIS,  child  of  Asaph  C.  and 
Amanda  Spencer  Ellis,  was  born  in  Clearfield  Co.,  Pa., 
Dec.  4th,  1839,  and  died  in  1841. 

ASAPH  CHILSON  ELLIS,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Clear- 
field Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  7th,  1842.     He  died  in  July,  1851. 


Children  of  Rev.  Consider  Ellis  (  T52),  of  EUisbarg:.  Pa.,  and 
tlielr  'Wives  and  husband.    Grandchildren  of  Rich- 
ard   ( 29 ),    icreat-grrandchildren     of    Reuben 
(4),  and  srreat-Kreat-grrandchildren  of 
Richard  Hills  of  Ashfleld. 

(500)  (GEORGE  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Elder  Consider 
Ellis,  and  Mary  Lovell  Ellis,  his  wife,  was  born  near  Ellis- 
burg,  Pa.,  in  1823.  In  1837  he  removed  with  his  parents  to 
the  town  of  Great  Valley,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
his  father  engaged  in  farming  and  milling  until  1844,  when 
they  removed  to  Ellisburg,  Pa.,  where  his  father  died  in 
1866  and  where  his  mother  now  lives  at  an  advanced  age. 

Mr.  Ellis  married  Rebecca  Rice  and  they  have  had  eight 
children,  (see  page  52).  They  lived  at  Stone  Dam,  Allegany 
Co.,  N.  Y. 

PRUDENCE  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Elder  Consider  Ellis, 
was  born  in  1825.  She  married  Samuel  G.  Rouse  and  they 
now  reside  at  Ellisburg,  Pa.  They  have  no  children.  Mr. 
Rouse's  mother  (153),  now  83  years,  lives  with  Mr. 

JOHN  L.  ELLIS,  second  son  of  Elder  Consider  Ellis, 
was  born  near  Ellisburg,  Pa.,  March  19,  1833.  He  married 
Mrs.  Jane  A.  Wilson,  of  Leroy,  Minn.,  in  1862.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Needham.  Her  father,  Horace  C. 
Needham,  was  a  prominent  man  in  Vermont.  He  died 
when  Mrs.  Ellis  was  young.  Mr.  Ellis  and  family  live  at 
Red  Bird,  Nebraska.  He  is  a  farmer.  He  has  two  sons, 
Orson  B.,  born  April  5,  1863,  in  Osage,  Mitchell  Co.,  Iowa. 
Fred  H.  was  born  in  Osage,  June  23,  1865.  He  married 
Miss  Ada  S.  France,  of  Runningwater,  Dakota,  in  1884. 
They  have  one  son,  Clifford,  born  in  Feb.  1885. 


Cliildren   of  Rev.  John   Ellis   ci54)*   of   Elltcottvillc,   Catta> 

rauKns  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  tbelr   wives  and   tinsbands. 

Grandchildren  of  Rlcbard  (29),  grreat-tcrand- 

clilldren  of  Reuben  (4),  and  great- 

srreat-Krandcblldren  of 

Rlcbard  Bills  of  Asbfield,  Blass.     Prom  506  to  313. 

(606.)  RALPH  ELLIS  was  born  at  Tioga,  Pa.,  in 
1829.  In  1853  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California  where 
he  engaged  for  a  time  in  mining.  In  1855  he  was  treasurer 
and  messenger  for  the  banking  house  of  Everts,  Wilson  & 
Co.  In  1857  he  was  elected  clerk  of  Sierra  Co.,  Cal.  In 
1861  he  settled  in  Napa  valley  and  in  1865  was  elected 
sheriff  of  Napa  county ;  since  the  expiration  of  this  term  of 
office  he  has  been  engaged  mostly  in  the  wheat  and  mill- 
ing trade.  He  is  also  editor  and  manager,  in  connection 
with  his  son,  of  the  "Lodi  Sentinel,"  the  leading  newspaper 
in  the  great  San  Joaquin  valley. 

Mr.  Ellis  married  in  Benicia,  Cal.,  in  1858,  Caroline  W. 
Evarts,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  T.  C.  Evarts  from  Indiana,  who 
settled  in  California  in  1856  where  he  died  in  1865.  Mrs. 
Ellis  was  born  at  Laporte,  Ind.,  in  1838.  Their  children 
are,  Wilson  R.,  bom  1859;  Carrie  C,  1861;  Frank  E.,  1864; 
Henry  F.,  1866  and  Maggie  M.,  1874. 

Wilson  R.  Ellis  married  Alice  Davis  in  California  in 
1884.  They  have  one  son,  Ralph  F.,  born  in  1885.  Mr. 
Ellis  is  manager  of  the  "  Sentinel." 

Carrie  C.  Ellis  married  Prof.  Freeman  B.  Mills  in  Aug., 
1885. 

(608.)  'JOHN  ELLIS,  son  of  Elder  John  Ellis  of 
EUicottville,  N.  Y.,  was  born  in  Tioga,  Pa.,  and  died 
unmarried  in  EUicottville,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  15,  1847. 

( 609. )  WILLIAM  F.  ELLIS,  son  of  Elder  John  Ellis, 
died  leaving  two  children,  Fred  and  Lizzie,  both  living  in 
California.  Fred  Ellis  is  a  mill  owner  and  rancher  and 
resides  at  Yountville,  Napa  Co. 

William  F.  Ellis  and  wife  both  died  the  same  night  of 
cholera,  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  about   1852.      Their  children 


223 

were   then    brought   to    Ellicottville,  N.  Y.,  and    soon  after 
their  uncle,  Ralph,  took  them  to  California. 

Lizzie  Ellis  married  D.  H.  Berdine,  a  printer,  and  pub- 
lisher of  "  Once  a  Week,"  a  temperance  journal.  They 
reside  at  Stockton,  Cal.  They  have  one  child,  Carrie  E., 
born  in  Ohio  in  i860. 

William  F.  Ellis'  wife  was  Matilda  Berdine. 

(511.)  LUCINDA  ELLIS  was  born  in  Pa.  in  1820. 
She  married  Peter  Berdine  in  1840.  They  removed  to 
Wisconsin  where  both  died  in  1881,  leaving  seven  children. 

(613.)  MARGARET  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Ellis,  was  born  at  Big  Meadows,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  about 
1821.  While  on  a  visit  to  her  brother,  William,  at  Cin- 
cinnati, she  took  a  fever  and  died  there  at  about  25  years 
of  age. 

Of  Elder  John  Ellis  (154),  and  his  family,  Mr.  Arunah 
Ward,  a  lawyer  at  Ellicottville,  N.  Y.  writes:  "The  family 
were  old  friends  of  mine  and  were  very  nice,  respectable 
people,  and  had  a  good  farm  and  mill  property  when  the 
father,  John  Ellis,  died." 


Cblldren   of  Elder   Rloliard   Bills  (158),  and  tlielr  -w^lires. 

Grandctaildren  of  Rlcliard  (29),  of  BllisburK,  Pa. 

Great  •grrandclilldren  of  Reuben  (4),  and 

srreat  •  grrcat  -  Ki'^>i^<^l*ll^i'o>  of 

Rlcbard  Hills,  of  Asbfield,  9lass.    Prom  522  to  528. 

(522.)  AMASA  ELLIS  was  born  in  Tioga  Co.,  Pa. 
Feb.  18,  1819.  He  married  Martha  Schoonover  Sept.  29, 
1849.  She  was  born  in  Tioga  Co.,  July  29,  1831.  When 
Mr.  Ellis  was  about  seven  years  of  age  his  father  died  and 
he  thereafter  lived  with  his  uncle,  David  Ellis  (160).  Mr. 
Ellis  has  been  a  farmer  until  recently,  owing  to  ill  health,  he 
has  bought  a  home  in  Westfield,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.  In  his 
early  married  life  Mr.  Ellis  lived  in  the  town  of  Willing,  near 


234 

Belmont,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  all  their  children  were 
born.  Mr.  Ellis  is  a  Baptist  and  very  active  in  the  church 
and  Sunday  school  service.  His  children  are  Mary  E., 
Delos,  James  D.,  Frank  and  Charles. 

Mary  E.  Ellis  was  born  Oct.  lo,  1850.  She  married 
E.  A.  Buck,  January  ist,  1871.  They  have  three  children, 
Emmer,  Annie  and  Lula.  Delos  Ellis,  born  Sept.  13,  1853, 
married  Hattie  Bush  Oct.  10,  1882.  All  now  live  in  West- 
field,  Pa. 

(524.)  CONSIDER  ELLIS  was  born  in  Shippen, 
Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  20,  1820.  He  married  Margaret 
Fortner  in  1845.  She  was  born  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  1820.  Forty  years  ago  Mr.  Ellis  settled  in  Belmont, 
N.  Y.,  on  a  fine  farm  which  he  carried  on  in  connection  with 
wagon  making,  which  trade  he  had  learned  in  early  life. 
He  was  a  very  prosperous  man  and  his  farm  was  noted  as 
being  one  of  the  best  in  Allegany  Co.  He  was  a  very 
generous  and  open-hearted  man  and  highly  respected  by  all 
his  towns-people.  He  died  suddenly  Aug.  3rd,  1886,  leav- 
ing his  wife  and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Brown  of  Belmont 
and  Mrs.  Fowler  of  Rochester. 

(526.)  SAMUEL  G.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Tioga  Co. 
Pa.,  in  1822.  He  married  Rosetta  Canfield  about  1844.  She 
was  raised  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had  two  daugh- 
ters, Eliza-Jane  and  Frances.  They  moved  to  Canada  in 
1849  where  Mr.  Ellis  died  the  next  year.  Mrs.  Ellis 
afterwards  married  a  Mr.  Lincoln  and  lived  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  at  last  accounts. 

(528.)  JOHN  M.  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Elder 
Richard  Ellis  was  born  in  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  Nov.  6th,  1825. 
He  married  Eliza  Fortner,  Feb.  25,  1852,  at  EUisburg,  Pa. 
She  was  born  in  1827  in  Independence,  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y. 
They  are  farmers  and  now  live  at  Waverly,  Beamer 
Co.,  Iowa.  They  have  two  children,  Rosetta  H.,  bom  in 
Independence,  N.  Y.,  March  28,  1853,  died  June  ist,  1881. 
Maggie  E.,  born  in  Franklin,  Iowa,  May  15,  1857;  married 
A.  V.  Viner,  Jan.  31,  1883.  They  have  one  child,  Zada 
May  Viner,  bom  at  Waverly,  June  24,  1884. 


225 

Clilldren  of  Da'vlf]  Ellla  (i6o),  of  T^ogtt,  Pa.,  and  tltefr  Haa> 

bands  and  ^Vlves,  Grandcblldren  of  Rlcliard  (29), 

Great  -  Grandcblldren    of    Reuben    (4)    and 

Great-Great-Grandcblldren  of  Rlcbard 

Gills  of  Asbfleld.  Prom  530  to  S44* 

( 530. )  THANKFUL  ELLIS,  eldest  daughter  of  David 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Shippen,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1820.  She 
married  Charlton  Phillips,  Aug.  nth,  1838,  in  Shippen.  Mr. 
Phillips  was  born  Feb.  27th,  1815.  After  their  marriage  they 
moved  to  Westfield,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  where  they  have  lived 
ever  since.  Mr.  Phillips  is  a  merchant  miller  in  Westfield. 
Forty  years  ago  Mr.  Phillips  bought  a  farm  which  he  cleared 
up  and  on  which  he  yet  resides.  He  built  a  saw  mill  and 
grist  mill,  hotel,  stores  and  houses.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips 
are  active  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  They  have 
had  eleven  children. 

Sylvester  D.  Phillips,  born  1840,  went  into  the  army  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion.  He  was  captain  in  the 
Bucktails,  a  celebrated  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  volunteers. 
He  was  promoted  to  major,  and  remained  in  the  service  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  married  Oct.  22nd,  1865,  to 
Villa  Thompson.  Capt.  Phillips  died  Dec.  6,  1886,  from 
disease  contracted  in   the  army,  a  victim  of  the  Rebellion. 

Rachel  Phillips,  born  in  Westfield,  Sept.  11,  1842, 
married  Rush  C.  Doty  in  Westfield.  Mr.  Doty  died 
March  17th,  1868,  after  which  his  widow  married  James 
Richtmyer  of  Moravia,  N.  Y.,  where  they  now  reside  on  a 
farm. 

Alice  Phillips,  born  Oct.  13th,  1844,  was  a  successful 
teacher,  and  at  the  age  of  24  married  C.  D.  Spafford,  of 
Moravia,  N.  Y.,  a  farmer.     They  have  one  son. 

Ellis  D.  Phillips,  born  March  i8th,  1847,  married  Jennie 
Ciosson.  They  have  two  children.  He  is  a  miller  in 
Westfield,  Pa.  " 

William  D.  Phillips,  bom  Feb.  14th,  1849,  married  Ella 
Broughton,  Aug.  17th,  1885. 

Delvin  D.  Phillips,  born  May  22nd,  1851.  He  was  an  en- 
gineer at  Williamsport.     He  was  accidently  killed  Sept.  8th. 


226 

i879>  and  was  to  have  been    married   on    the   day  he  was 
buried. 

Clarence  and  Clara  Phillips  were  born  Aug,  29th,  1855. 
Clarence  is  a  miller,  unmarried.  Clara  married  O.  A. 
Tremain,  of  Westfield,  and  they  have  two  children. 

Emma  Philips,  born  Feb.  15th,  1859,  married  William 
Pease,  of  "Westfield,  Sept.  19th,  1885. 

Eva  Phillips,  born  Aug.  14th,  1862,  died  Feb.  8th,  the  next 
year. 

Charles  N.  Phillips  was  born  March  28th,  1867.  All 
these  Phillips'  are  highly  respected  and  prosperous  people. 
The  father,  Mr.  Charlton  Phillips,  is  a  man  of  uncommon 
energy,  probity  and  intelligence.  He  is  said  to  be  a  de- 
scendant of  Capt.  John  Phillips  of  Eastern  Massachusetts. 
(See  page  16.) 

(632.)  CHLOE  ELLIS  was  born  April  i8th,  1822. 
She  married  Job  Rexford  March  3d,  1844.  Mr.  Rexford 
was  born  Jan.  23d,  1819,  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  came 
to  Pine  Creek,  Tioga  Co.,  and  engaged  .in  manufacturing 
lumber  and  rafting  it  down  the  Susquehanna  River  to  mar- 
ket. About  1877  he  settled  at  Harrison  Valley,  Potter  Co., 
Pa.,  where  he  died  Feb.  23d,  1880.  Mrs.  Rexford  is  a  Pres- 
byterian, and  a  very  bright  and  intelligent  woman.  She  sends 
the  writer  an  account  of  a  visit  to  her  grandfather,  Richard 
Ellis  (29)  at  Ellisburg,  Pa.,  when  she  was  quite  young.  "  My 
oldest  brother,  a  young  lady  cousin  from  Wellsboro,  and  my- 
self, drove  our  own  team  over  the  country.  It  was  very  cold 
and  we  were  nearly  three  days  on  the  road.  Grandfather 
was  very  much  pleased  to  see  us.  He  showed  us  about  his 
house,  took  us  to  the  saw  mill  and  the  grist  mill,  showed  us 
the  process  of  grinding  grain  into  flour  or  feed,  the  water 
wheels  and  the  improvements  he  intended  soon  to  make, 
then  took  us  to  his  hotel,  which  at  that  time  was  leased  to 
another  party.  This  same  building  stands  there  now,  but 
improved  and  built  around  with  o  her  buildings.  He  intro- 
duced us  as  his  grandchildren,  win  had  come  to  see  him  for 
t'le  first  time.      He  showed    us   through  the   building,  and 


227 

when  in  the  bar-room  ordered  made  ^ood  glasses  of  '  sling,' 
as  he  said  he  wanted  to  drink  to  the  health  of  his  grand- 
children the  first  time  they  came  to  see  him.  How  times 
have  changed  in  these  fifty  years  !  But  he  was  a  true  and 
righteous  Christian  man."* 

Mrs.  Rexford's  children  are  Perry  Emerson,  born  Feb. 
22d,  1845,  married  to  Clara  Sweetland  June  26th,  1870. 
They  are  both  Baptists.  Mr.  Rexford  is  a  farmer  at  Har-? 
rison  Valley. 

Nancy  Orilla,  born  May  31st,  1848,  married  Capt.  Jason 
W.  Stevens  May  ist,  1870,  who  was  a  soldier  all  through 
the  war.  Capt.  Stevens  carries  on  an  extensive  mercantile 
business  in  Harrison  Valley. 

Henry   Gilbert,   born  Feb.  24th,   1852,  died  Dec.  20th, 

1853- 

Stella,  born  Oct.  15th,  i860,  married  Dr.  E.  J.  Shaw, 
Jan.  ist,  T879.  He  died  Feb.  12th,  1881.  All  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rexford's  children  were  born  in  Tioga  Co.,  Pa. 

(634.)  CHESTER  ELLIS,  son  of  David  Ellis,  was  born 
in  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  April  22d,  1823.  He  married  Miss 
Chloe  Blue  in  Wellsboro,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  Sept.  25th,  1848. 
Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  in  Tioga  Co.,  August  29th,  1827.  Mr. 
Ellis  is  a  millwright  and  is  now  in  Las  Vegas,  New  Mexico. 
His  children  were  all  born  in  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.     They  are  : 

Lawrence  A.  EUis,  born  March  14th,  1849.  He  is  an 
architect  and  builder,  and  resides  at  Laurel,  Maryland, 
where  he  has  constructed  several  of  the  largest  and  finest 
buildings  in  that  part  of  the  state.  He  married,  June  3d, 
1875,  Sarah  Elizabeth  Curley,  who  was  born  July  9th,  1853. 
They  have  had  three  children  :  James  C,  born  1876,  died 
the  same  year  ;  George  Frederick,  born  1878,  and  Norman 
R.,  born  1880. 

♦Wonder  is  often  expressel  that  minister!  and  religious  people  cannot  now  use  ardent 
spirits  with  the  safety  that  they  did  a  few  generations  ago.  This  is  attributed,  by  some  to  the 
present  impufity  of  liquor  but  it  i-s  not  so  for  t  le  more  pure  whisky  is,  the  more  dangerous 
It  is  The  true  rea«on  i<  that  f  >rmerly  religious  people  used  liquors  with  the  conscientious, 
although  mistaken,  belief  that  they  were  useful,  but  th.it  from  religious  motives,  they  roust 
be  constantly  on  their  gu.ird,  and  restrain  themselves  from  intoxication  N.tw,  all  men  of 
intelligence  know  that  their  use  is  vile  and  sinful  and  that  to  tam;>er  with  them  is  to  sport 
with  the  devil,  and  when  they  do  the  good  influences  of  heaven  and  the  angels  are  withdrawn 
from  them.     Without  these  restraints  drunkenness  and  insanity  soon  result. 


228 

Seymour  David  Ellis  was  born  March  25th,  1851,  in 
Shippen,  Pa.  He  is  a  carpenter.  Mr.  Ellis  lives  in  Wells- 
boro,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.  He  married  Aggie  Chafee,  of 
Greenville,  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.     She  was  born  Dec.  i8th,  i860. 

Simon  W.  Ellis,  born  at  Westfield,  Pa.,  June  ist,  1857. 
He  is  a  carpenter  and  resides  at  Wellsboro. 

Myra  O.  Ellis,  born  at  Westfield,  May  loth,  1866.  She 
married  Lee  English,  and  they  reside  at  English  Mills, 
Lycoming  Co.,  Pa. 

Annie  B.  Ellis,  born  Feb.  9th,  1869,  lives  with  her  mother 
at  Wellsboro. 

(636.)  JEFFERSON  ELLIS  was  born  June  13th,  1826. 
He  married  Lorena  Chapel  June  i6th,  1850,  in  Shippen 
Township.     Mr.  Ellis  died  about  1877  in  Wisconsin. 

His  children  were  Sarah,  Ella  and  John. 

(538.)  MARIA  ELLIS  was  born  May  nth,  1828. 
She  married  John  J.  Miller  Feb.  15th,  1849.  Mrs.  Miller 
died  Feb.  21st,  1864.  Her  children  were  Katie,  born  Nov. 
nth,  1849;  Lillian  Mary,  Feb.  7th,  1852  ;  Nellie  Alphoretta, 
June  2ist,  1857;  Henry  Maurice,  July  i8th,  1862,  died  the 
next  year  ;  and  Maria  Bell  Miller,  Feb.  13th,  1864,  died  the 
same  year. 

The  Millers  live  in  Williamsport,  Pa.,  at  present. 

(640.)  HARRY  ELLIS,  born  in  1831,  in  Tioga  Co. 
He  married  Susan  Schusler,  Nov.  29th,  1857.  They  live  at 
Mansfield,  Tioga  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Mr,  Ellis  is  engaged  in 
carpentry  and  selHng  wind  mills.  Himself  and  wife  are 
ardent  Baptists.  Mr.  E.  has  been  prominent  in  the  church 
over  twenty  years,  and  for  nine  years  at  the  head  of  the 
Sunday  school. 

They  have  had  three  children  :  Emma,  bom  Dec.  8th, 
i860 :  Minna,  born  Nov.  13,  1862,  died  April  17th,  1865  ; 
Fred  D.,  born  Dec.  6th,  1864. 

(642.)  CRETIA  ANN  ELLIS,  bom  Feb.  7th,  1836, 
married  William  Annesley  Jan.  ist,  1855.  Mr.  Annesley  was 
bom  April  24th,  1833.      He  died  Oct.  5th,  1880.    They  had 


239 

three  children  :  Mary,  Carrie   and    Henry.      They  live  at 
Pike  Mills,  Potter  Co.,  Pa. 

(644.)  BAKER  D.  ELLIS  was  born  April  20th,  1838. 
He  married  Bertha  Fay,  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  April  23d,  1882, 
She  was  born  Dec,  12th,  i860.  They  live  at  Hector,  Potter 
Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Ellis'  younger  brother,  Seymour,  born  1846, 
died  in  1848. 


Cfalldren  of  Harry  Kills  (x68),  of  Clllsbarg:,  Pa.,  and  tlieir 

yviyfca,  Grandclilldren  of  RIcliard  (29),  Great-Grand- 

cblldren  of  Reuben  (4),  and  Great-Great- 

Grandcbildren  of  Rlcbard  Ellis  of 

Asbfield.    From  55a  to  563. 

(652. )  ADOLPHUS  C.  ELLIS  was  born  in  EUisburg, 
Pa.,  in  1837.  He  married  Mary  Hill  and  they  have  three 
children:  Nettie,  born  1864;  Mary  E.,  1869;  and  Ella,  1874. 
They  reside  at  Genesee  Fork,  Pa.  He  is  a  farmer.  His 
daughter  Nettie  married  June  ist,  1887,  Mr.  Seymour 
Alexander,  a  merchant  of  Genesee  Fork. 

(664.)  WILLIAM  ELLIS  was  born  in  1838.  He  mar- 
ried Anna  Donaldson  and  they  have  three  children:  Violet, 
born  1870;  Harry  F.,  1873;  and  William  M.,  1876.  He 
was  a  merchant  in  EUisburg. 

(556.)  RICHARD  ELLIS,  son  of  Harry  Ellis,  was 
born  in  EUisburg,  Pa.,  Jan.  nth,  1840.  He  married  Maggie 
Locke  Jan.  ist,  1861.  She  was  born  Feb.  23d,  1846.  Mr. 
Ellis  is  in  the  mercantile  business  in  EUisburg.  He  has 
aided  the  writer  greatly  in  procuring  statistics  and  informa- 
tion for  this  work. 

Their  only  child  Nora,  born  July  29th,  1870,  died  of 
congestion  of  the  brain  Oct.  6th,  1886.  She  was  a  student  at 
the  time  in  the  High  school  at  Lewisville,  and  was  one  of 
the  brightest  and  most  accomplished  scholars  in  the  institu- 
tion. She  was  both  lovely  in  character  and  in  person,  and 
her  untimely  death  was  a  sad  blow  to  her  fond  parents.  Truly, 
"Death  loves  a  shining  mark."  For  the  bereaved  parents 
the  strongest  sympathy  is  felt  wherever  their  daughter  was 
known.     While  this  was  of  no  avail  to  turn  aside  the  blow, 


230 

it  will,  in  time,  assist  in  softening  their  sorrow.  The  dear 
one  is  but  j^one  on  before.  Death  has  embalmed  her  in  all 
her  youthful  loveliness.  Age  can  never  blanch  her  cheeks 
nor  sorrow  dim  her  eyes,  and  her  memory  will  remain  the 
dearest  treasure  in  the  broken  family  circle,  and  the  reunion 
will  surely  come. 

The  dear  departed  gone  before 
To  that  unseen  and  silent  shore. 
Sure,  we  shall  meet  as  heretofore, 
Some  summer  morning. 

(558.)  ORSON  ELLIS  was  born  in  Ellisburg,  Pa. 
He  married  Inez  Pye  and  she  died  in  1882.  He  is  a 
merchant  at  Ellisburg. 

(660.)  MARION  £LLIS  born  about  1843  in  Ellisburg. 
He  died  unmarried. 

(661.)  AM  AS  A  ELLIS^  son  of  Harry,  was  born  in 
Ellisburg,  Pa.,  Nov.  4th,  1848.  He  married  AUie  Donaldson 
and  they  have  three  children,  Elizabeth,  Mary  and  Donald- 
son.    Mr.  Ellis  is  in  a  hardware  store  in  Wellsboro. 

(662.)  GENNET  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Harry,  was  bom 
in  Ellisburg,  Jan.  19th,  1846.     She  died  in  1861. 

(663.)  ELLA  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Harry,  was 
born  in  Ellisburg,  Jan.  i8th,  185 1.  She  married  John 
Simons,  March  14th,  1876.  Mr.  Simons  was  born  March 
I2th,  1853.  Their  daughter  Katie  was  bom  Aug.  25th, 
1878.     They  live  in  Ellisburg,  Pa. 

( 666. )  ELTIRA  ELLIS,  only  child  of  Reuben  Ellis 
( 172 ),  of  Ellisburg,  Pa.,  was  born  Feb.  23d,  1833.  She 
married  Charles  Coats,  a  thriving  farmer  of  Ellisburg, 
Pa.,  Jan.  31st,  1850.  Their  children  are  Frances  E., 
Catherine  E.,  Harriet  A.,  Reuben  E.  and  William  H.  Coats, 
all  born  in  Ellisburg.  Miss  Frances  E.  Coats  married 
Benjamin  F.  Bishop,  a  farmer.  They  had  one  son,  born 
1874. 

Catherine  E.  Coats  married  Ira  Bishop,  a  brother  of  B. 
F,  Bishop.     He  is  also  a  farmer, 

Harriet    A.    Coats  married  R.  A.  Bradley,  her  second 


231 

husband.  They  live  in  New  Mexico,  where  Mr.  Bradley  is 
engaged  in  mining,  1  hey  have  three  children  :  Bertha  I. 
Coy,  born  1879  ;  Irvin  R.,  1882,  and  Rena  Ethel,  1882. 

William  H.  Coats,  born  1866,  died  Nov.  8th,  1886.  He 
was  a  young  man  of  unusual  brightness.  His  last  sickness 
and  death  was  supposed  to  have  been  caused  by  the  rupture 
of  a  blood-vessel  in  his  brain.  When  it  became  apparent 
that  his  end  was  near,  the  members  of  the  family  were 
called  in  and  he  bade  good-bye  to  each,  thanked  the 
doctor  for  coming  to  see  him,  and  sent  his  best  respects  to 
the  doctor's  wife,  who  had  been  his  teacher.  He  spoke  at 
intervals  of  the  great  beauty  and  brightness  all  about  him, 
and  once  said,  "  The  golden  chariot  is  coming."  "  I  would 
like  to  live  if  I  could,  but  it  is  all  right?''  His  last  words 
were,  "  Good-bye,  mother,  I'm  going  to  Heaven,"  and  a  few 
minutes  later  the  Angel  of  Death  released  him  from  suf- 
fering. 

So  passed  away  this  noble  boy,  of  whom  every  one  says, 
"  He  was  always  so  good."  And  no  wonder,  for  rare 
indeed  are  they  who  possess  so  great  a  degree  of  amiability. 

His  daily  prayer,  far  better  understood 

In  acts  than  words,  was  simply  doing  good. 

So  calm,  so  constant  was  his  rectitude, 

That  by  his  loss  alone  we  know  its  worth, 

And  feel  how  true  a  man  has  walked  with  us  on  earth. 


Ctalldren  of  'William  Rills,  Sr.  (176),  of  Springfield,  Krle  Co., 

Pa.,  and  tlielr  "W^lves  and  Husbands,  Grandctilldren 

of  David  Hills,  Sr.  (.32),  Great-Grandcblldren 

of    Reuben   (4),  and  Great-Great-Grand- 

cblldren  of  Richard  £llls,  of  Asb> 

field.  From  S70   to  587. 

(670)  WILLIAM  ELLIS,  JR.,  was  born  in  Ashfield, 
Mass.,  May  17th,  1810.  At  eight  years  of  age  he  went 
with  his  parents  to  Springfield,  Pa.,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death,  Nov.  29th,  1865.  He  married  Sarah  Geer  in  Spring- 
field Nov.  I2th,  1840.  They  had  four  children:  David,  born 
1841,  died  1870;  Jesse,  1843;  Rhoda,  1847,  died  1855,  and 
Martha,  born  1851.  « 


232 

(672)  CHARLES  PERKINS  ELLIS,  was  born  in 
Ashfield  March  20th,  1812.  He  died  in  LaGrange,  Wis., 
Jan.  22nd,  1881.  When  a  young  man  he  settled  on  a  farm  of 
1 20  acres,  in  LaGrange.  This  was  in  1842.  When  six 
years  of  age  his  parents  removed  from  Ashfield  to  Spring- 
field, Pa. 

When  eight  years  old,  Charles  was  accustomed  to  take 
the  light  axe  provided  for  that  purpose  and  go  regularly  to 
the  woods  with  his  father  and  grandfather,  to  assist  in  clear- 
ing up  the  farm.  Springfield  township  was  a  heavily  wooded 
region,  and  at  that  time  only  partially  cleared  up.  The  set- 
tlers were  poor,  and  the  educational  advantages  afforded  the 
youth  were  very  limited.  The  principal  qualification  of  a 
teacher  was  the  ability  to  flog  the  large  boys.  Greased 
paper  in  place  of  glass  gave  ingress  to  light  in  the  log  school 
houses,  and  slabs  served  for  seats  and  desks.  Three  months 
study  per  year — reading,  writing  and  arithmetic — constituted 
a  liberal  education  in  that  day  and  region.  On  reaching 
manhood  Charles  found  employment  in  the  pinery  on  the 
upper  waters  of  the  Alleghany  river,  and  continued  for  sev- 
eral winters  to  work  at  logging — going  down  the  streams 
in  the  spring  with  the  rafts.  It  was  his  custom,  on  reaching 
St.  Louis  with  the  lumber,  to  walk  across  the  country  to 
Michigan,  where  he  worked  at  farming  and  building  through 
the  summer.  On  one  of  the  latter  trips  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  fine  prairie  and  timber  land  in  Cass  County,  Michi- 
gan, which  he  afterward  traded  for  a  team  of  horses  and 
wagon,  when  he  moved  to  Wisconsin.  December  15th,  1839, 
he  was  married  to  Sarah  Harris.  She  was  born  in  Hender- 
son, Jefferson  County,  New  York,  May  nth,  1816. 
Jeremiah  and  Priscilla  (Cole)  Harris,  parents  of  Mrs.  Ellis, 
were  also  early  settlers  in  Springfield,  having  located  there 
six  years  after  the  EUises. 

The  former  was  a  grandson  of  Anthony  Harris,  who 
was  born  in  Richmond,  New  Hampshire,  in  1836;  Jeremiah 
was  also  born  in  Richmond.  When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis 
settled  in  LaGrange  there  were  about  a  dozen  families  in  the 


233 

town,  and  people  half  a  dozen  miles  away  were  considered 
near  neighbors.  Their  residence  was  on  the  north-east 
corner  of  section  21,  and  was  always  a  home  for  travelers. 
At  first  it  consisted  of  a  small  log  house  of  one  room.  In 
addition  to  the  single  room  below  there  was  a  loft  which 
served  as  a  sleeping  room. 

Mr.  Ellis  was  reared  under  strict  Baptist  teachings,  but 
became  a  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  Universalism,  to  which 
he  steadfastly  adhered  from  the  time  he  was  thirL\-  years 
old.  His  family  and  friends  were  assured  by  him  just 
before  his  death  that  he  had  nothing  to  regret  in  this  regard, 
or  any  other.  In  this  faith  he  Wus  accompanied  througli  a 
long  life  of  Christian  charity  by  his  faithful  helpmeet.  In 
the  days  of  the  Whig  party  he  was  a  supporter  of  its  politi- 
cal creed,  and  afterward  of  its  successor,  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  its  town  and  county  con- 
ventions nearly  all  his  life,  and  otten  served  as  a  town  officer. 
He  never  sought  nor  accepted  any  higher  positions.  He 
was  town  Treasurer  in  1844,  and  was  four  times  subsequently 
elected  to  that  position;  in  1845  he  was  elected  Supervisor, 
and  filled  that  office  for  eight  terms.  He  was  an  active  sup- 
porter of  religious  services,  and  his  house  was  always  a 
home  for  ministers  of  every  sect.  For  many  years,  the  only 
churches  in  the  township  (which  he  had  helped  to  build) 
were  owned  by  the  Methodists,  and  it  was  largely  owing  to 
his  efforts  and  influence  that  the  church  near  his  house  was 
finished  jointly  by  the  Methodists  and  Universalists  and 
dedicated  as  free  to  all  Christian  denominations.  The  fol- 
lowing testimonial  to  his  character  is  taken  from  an  obituary, 
written  by  one  of  his  neighbors: 

"The  writer  of  these  lines  has  known  the  deceased  tor 
nearly  35  years,  and  for  the  greater  portion  of  that  time  was 
privileged  to  enjoy  his  triendship.  With  loving  reverence 
for  his  memory,  he  testifies  to  his  manly  virtues.  He  was  a 
man  of  stainless  character,  of  strict  integrity  and  solid  worth. 
In  his  social  relations  he  was  genial  and  pleasant,  being  pos- 
sessed of  that  personal  magnetism  which  wins  friends,  and 
of  those  fine  qualities  of  heart  which  retain  them.     He  was 


234 

a  kind  neighbor  and  a  good  citizen;  a  faithful  husband  and 
indulgent  parent.  He  was  a  man  who  always  took  the 
keenest  interest  in  all  questions  affecting  the  public  good, 
and  his  opinions  of  men  and  measures  were  broad  and  lib- 
eral. In  religious  matters  he  had  clear  and  well-defined 
views.  He  believed  in  the  infinite  love  and  compassion  of 
God,  in  the  universal  brotherhood  of  mankind,  and  in  the 
ultimate  salvation  of  all  men.  There  was  no  doubt  in  his 
mind  touching  these  things;  hence,  in  the  hour  of  death,  he 
was 

*  Sustained  and  soothed 
By  an  unfaltering  tiiist,  and  approached  the  grave 
Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
About  him  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams.'  " 

Mr.  Ellis  improved  his  farm  in  a  high  degree  and  erected 
thereon  excellent  buildings,  where  his  widow  and  daughter 
now  reside. 

Priscilla  Rumina,  the  daughter  of  Charles  P.  Ellis,  was 
born  in  La  Grange  Jan.  28th,  1845.  She  married  Mr.  John 
E.  Menzie  April  15th,  1871,  and  lives  on  the  homestead. 

James  Alfred,  eldest  son  of  Charles  P.  Ellis,  was  born  in 
La  Grange,  April  15th,  1852.  He  married  Eva  Lucretia 
Williams  Feb.  8th,  1873,  ^^  Hebron,  Wis.  They  live  at 
Whitewater,  Wis.  They  have  seven  children:  Cicero  Guy, 
born  Oct.  31st,  1873;  Julia  Maud,  Aug.  6th,  1875;  Priscilla 
May,  Jan.  7th,  1877;  Minnie  Madge,  July  28lh,  1879; 
Charles  Williams,  July  2d,  1880;  James  Horace,  Nov.  12th, 
1882,  and  William  David,  Sept.  2nd,  1885. 

Mr.  James  A.  Ellis  is  a  fine  specimen  of  manhood,  six 
feet  one  and  one-half  inches  high,  and  weighing  190  pounds. 
He  has  been  engaged  in  school-teaching,  and  more  lately  in 
the  book  and  map  trade  in  various  sections  of  the  country. 
He  is  a  practical  printer  and  was  engaged  in  journalism  tor 
a  time,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  publishing  firm  of 
Beers,  Ellis  &  Co.,  of  New  York  City.  In  religious  and 
political  convictions  he  follows  the  precepts  of  his  father. 
His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Horace  and  Olive  (Delano) 
Williams,  of  Vermont.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  in  Cold  Spring, 
Jefferson  Co.,  Wis.,  Oct.  24th,  1855. 


235 
Charles  Elliott  Ellis,  youngest  son  of  Charles  P.,  was 
born  in  La  Grange,  March  i6th,  1859,  and  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm.  Beside  the  home  school,  he  attended 
the  city  school  in  Delevan  for  several  months.  With  the 
exception  of  four  winter  terms  of  teaching,  the  balance  of 
his  life  has  been  spent  on  the  farm,  and,  up  to  the  spring  of 
1883,  on  the  old  homestead.  At  the  latter  date  he  pur- 
chased 120  acres  in  Geneva  township,  near  Elkhorn,  which 
he  is  now  engaged  in  tilling.  May  15th,  1883,  he  married 
Clarissa  M.,  daughter  of  Alexander  H.  and  Teressa  A. 
Button,  of  Linn,  where  Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  May  ist,  1859. 
They  have  one  child,  Clara  Inez,  born  June  7th,  1884. 

(675.)  HARRIET  ELLIS,  daughter  of  William  Ellis, 
Sr.,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  May  14th,  1815.  She  mar- 
ried Mr.  Amos  Smith  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  Dec.  24th,  1835. 
They  have  four  children,  Cyrus  E.,  Cordelia  L,,  John  B. 
and  William  E.  Mrs.  Harriet  E,  Smith  died  at  Springfield, 
Sept.  29th,  1858. 

(677.)  LUCRETIA  ELLIS  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Oct. 
6th,  1817.  She  now  resides  with  her  brother,  Joseph,  on 
the  homestead  in  Springfield,  Pa.  She  was  never  of  robust 
health,  but  is  one  of  the  best  and  most  genial  in  nature  and 
disposition. 

(679.)  SAMUEL  ELLIS,  son  of  William,  Sr.,  was 
born  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  Nov.  ist,  1821,  In  1842  he 
removed  to  La  Grange,  Wis.,  where  he  worked  as  a  car- 
penter and  builder.  He  married  Amanda  Adams  in  La 
Grange,  Wis.,  in  1849.  Mrs.  Ellis  died  July  24th,  1850, 
leaving  one  son,  William  Edwin  Ellis,  born  April  2d,  1850, 
who  now  resides  in  San  Angelo,  Texas.  William  E.  was 
married  to  Annie  L.  Black  in  Eau  Claire,  Wis.,  in  187 1. 
They  had  two  children:  Mabel  E.,  born  at  Eau  Claire, 
Aug.  29th,  1872,  and  Samuel  E.,  born  at  Chippewa  Falls, 
March  loth,  1874.  The  latter  died  in  infancy.  In  1874 
Mr.  William  E.  Ellis  moved  to  Texas.  In  1884  he  was 
married  again  to  Mary  B.  McKenzie  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Cora  Harriet,  born  June  ist,  1885. 


236 

Sept.  17th,  1854,  Mr.  Ellis  married  Harriet  French,  and 
they  have  three  children:  Cora  Lucretia,  born  1856;  Frank 
Enrique,  1858;  Verne  Adrian,  1869,  died  1870,  Cora  L. 
married  Charles  B.  Walworth  Aug.  15th,  1877.  Frank  E. 
married  Maggie  CuUen  April  4th,  1880,  at  Chippewa  Falls, 
Wis. 

Mr.  Samuel  Ellis  lived  in  Palmyra  from  1852  to  1861, 
where  he  kept  the  Palmyra  House,  when  he  moved  to  Eau 
Claire,  Wis.,  and  went  into  the  livery  business,  in  which  he 
is  yet  extensively  engaged. 

(581.)  JAMES  F.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Springfield,  Pa., 
Sept.  3d,  1824.  He  died,  Oct.  3d,  1849,  at  La  Grange, 
Wis. 

(583.)  MARY  L.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Springfield,  Pa., 
Sept.  15,  1828.  She  married  Jonathan  Morrell  in  Spring- 
field, Aug.  1 2th,  1847.  They  had  five  children,  two  of 
whom  are  now  living.  Mr.  Morrell  died  in  1882.  Mrs. 
Morrell  now  lives  in  East  Springfield,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  where 
she  has  a  beautiful  home. 

(686.)  JOSEPH  ELLIS,  youngest  son  of  William 
Ellis,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  Dec.  28th,  1831. 
He  married  Martha  Weed,  Feb.  26th,  1863,  and  lives  on 
the  farm  where  his  father  and  grandfather  settled  soon  after 
their  removal  from  Ashfield  to  Springfield.  This  is  an  ele- 
gant farm  with  large  and  convenient  buildings.  Mr.  Ellis 
is  an  ardent  and  influential  Republican  in  politics.  In 
religious  faith  he  is  a  Universalist. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  have  had  five  children,  three  of 
whom  are  now  living,  Nevada  A.,  George  W.  and  Ralph 
G.  Ellis.     Nevada  is  married  and  lives  with  her  parents. 

(687.)  RUMINA  ELLIS,  youngest  daughter  of  William, 
Sr.,  was  born  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  Oct.  29th,  1834.  She 
married  Mr.  John  Potter  in  1856,  and  they  removed  to 
Eyota,  Minn.,  where  Mr.  Potter  was  a  hardware  merchant 
at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1859.  Mrs.  Potter  has  one  son, 
Gilbert  Ellis  Potter,  bom  Jan.  14th,  1858.  Mr.  G.  E.  Potter 
married  Mary  E.  Fulkerson.     She  was  born  Dec.  9th,  1858, 


237 
in  Marion,  Minn.      They  were  married  by  Rev.  John  W. 
Fulkerson.     They  have  one  son,  Ralph  E.,  born  1885.     In 
1886  Mr.  Potter  settled  in  Ashton,  Dakota. 

In  1877  Mrs.  Rumina  E.  Potter  married  Francis  A. 
Owen,  formerly  of  Allegan,  Mich.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owen 
now  live  in  Ashton,  Dakota.     They  are  Methodists. 


Ctalldren  of  Da'vld  Ellis,  Jr.    180),  of  Sprlnicfleld,  £rle  Co., 

Pa.,  Graiidchildlren  of  David,  Sr.  (321,   Great-ffrand- 

clilldren   of   Reuben   (4),    and    Great-grreat- 

srrandclilldren  of  Rlcliard  Ellis,  of 

Astafleld.    From  598  to  611. 

(698.)  LOUISA  ELLIS,  eldest  child  of  David,  Jr.,  was 
born  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  Feb.  6th,  1815.  She  was  three 
years  old  when  her  parents  settled  in  Springfield,  Pa.  In 
1837  she  married  Robert  Patterson,  and  they  resided  in 
Springfield  several  years,  where  they"  raised  two  children, 
William  S.,  born  1838,  and  Joseph  E.,  1841.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Patterson  were  Baptists  and  always  active  in  church  and 
Sunday  school  work.  Mr.  Patterson  was  born  in  McKean, 
Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1810.  When  a  young  man  he  settled  in 
Springfield  township,  and  lived  on  the  same  farm  until  1866, 
when  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Erie,  Pa.,  where  he 
died  in  1868.     His  parents  were  Irish  Protestants. 

William  S.  Patterson  was  born  in  Springfield,  Dec.  31st, 
1837.  He  was  a  merchant  in  Springfield,  and  afterwards  in 
Erie.  He  married  Orrilla  Spencer  in  i860.  They  had  one 
child,  Ida  E.,  born  in  1862.  Mr.  Patterson  died  in  Erie^ 
Pa.,  in  1878. 

Joseph  Ellis  Patterson  was  born  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  July 
25th,  1841.  He  lived  on  his  father's  farm  until  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  then  entered  the  store  with  his  brother.  He 
is  still  in  the  hardware  trade  in  Erie,  Pa.,  where  he  resides 
with  his  mother  and  family.  In  1870  he  married  Martha  M. 
Dyke,  of  North-East,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.  They  have  two 
children,  Georgia  Louisa,  born  1876,  and  J.  Clyde,  born 
1881.  Mr.  Patterson  and  wife  are  Presbyterians  and  are 
very  highly  respected  and  upright  people.  Mr.  Patterson 
has  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council  in  Erie,  and  is  a 
prominent  and  public  spirited  citizen. 


238 

(600.)  MELINDA  ELLIS  was  born  in  Ashfield,  181 7. 
She  has  always  resided  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  with  her  parents, 
for  whom  she  cared  until  their  death,  since  which  she  has 
lived  with  her  brother,  Dr.  George  Ellis.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  Church. 

(601.)  DR.  GEORGE  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  David 
Ellis,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  in  1818.  He  was  six 
months  of  age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Springfield, 
Pa.,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  In  early  life  he 
studied  medicine  and  graduated  at  the  medical  department 
of  Hudson  University,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  has  a  large 
practice  in  Springfield  and  surrounding  towns.  In  1865  he 
was  appointed  U.  S.  Examining  Surgeon  for  pensions.  He 
is  a  member  of  Cache  Commandery  of  K.  T.,  of  Conneaut, 
Ohio.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  a  leading  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church  of  East  Springfield.  Like 
most  of  the  early  Ellises,  he  is  a  thorough  Bible  student  and 
quite  a  theologian.  He  has  a  large  farm  near  where  his 
father  settled  in  1818,  which  is  operated  mostly  by  his  son, 
Orra  M.  Ellis. 

In  1843  Dr.  Ellis  married  Miss  Eunice  B.  Lyon.  She 
was  born  in  Conway,  Mass.  (next  town  east  of  Ashfield), 
Oct.  25th,  1821.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Marshall  and 
Chloe  Lyon  and  grand-daughter  of  David  and  Betsey 
Lyon,  old  and  influential  residents  of  Ashfield.  Her  father, 
Marshall  Lyon,  was  a  cousin  of  the  gifted  Mary  Lyon,* 


*Mary  Lyon  was  the  most  famous  woman  of  Ashfield,  and  one  of  the  most  justly  noted 
of  the  age.  bhe  was  b^m  in  the  northeast  comer  of  Ashfield,  nrar  the  Conway  and  Buck- 
land  line  Some  years  after  her  birth  (about  1807)  that  part  of  the  town,  including  her 
father's  farm,  was  set  off  and  joined  to  Buckland.  Miss  Lyon  was  a  very  ready  scholar  and 
had  a  most  logical  mind,  bhe  was  a  student  in  the  Sanderson  Academy  on  Ashfield  Plain, 
and  at  Amherst  College,  and  it  is  said  that  after  studying  a  Latin  grammar  three  days,  she 
could  recite  in  any  class  in  the  college.  In  learning,  and  as  a  debater,  she  was  the  weer  of 
any  man  in  th.it  secli.n  cf  Ma.ssachusetts.  In  her  early  years  she  was  a  teacher  for  four 
terms  in  the  district  schuol  of  the  hilis  neighborhood,  and  some  are  now  living  including 
the  writer's  mother,  who  were  her  pupils  in  that  schoolhouse.  She  afterwards  was  a  pupil 
and  teacher  in  the  Academy  on  the  I'lain.  In  a  late  visit  (May.  1887,)  of  the  writer  to  those 
paits.  he  noticed  at  nearly  every  cross-roads  for  miles  around,  neatly  painted  signs  directing 
the  way  and  giving  thr  distance  "  To  Mary  Lyon's  birth-place."  as  a  token  of  reverence  for 
her  memory,  and  to  show  the  esteem  in  whu  h  she  is  held  by  all  the  people. 

In  i8?0  Miss  l.yon  founded  .\lt.  Hoiyoke  semin  ry  at  South  Hadley,  Mass.  She  con- 
ducted this  Institution  with  the  greatest  success  until  her  death,  .March  5th,  1849,  •"  ^^^  5V^ 
year  of  h<  r  age. 

Mary  Lyon's  parents  were  Aaron  Lyon,  Jr.,  and  his  wife  Jemima  Shepard,  a  daughter 
of  Deacon  Isaac  Shepard  a  noted  resident  of  Ashtield.  Aaron  Lyon  was  born  about  1757, 
died  Dec.  at,  1802,  le.iving  seven  children.  His  father,  Aa'on  Lyon.  Sr.,  was  a  noted  patriot 
in  Ashfie'd  during  the  Kevolution.  All  these  Lyons  were  eminent  for  piety  and  general 
worth.  In  1777  Aaron  L\on.  Sr  ,  was  one  of  three  persons  who  were  appointed  to  report 
at  a  subsequent  meeting  what  should  be  done  with  certain  Tories  then  in  Ashfield.  who  were 
jubilant  at  the  progress  made  by  the  British  under  Burgoyne.      The  latter  were  expected  to 


239 

whose  name  is  immortalized  as  the  founder  of  Mt.  Holyoke 
Seminary,  the  first  institution  for  the  higher  education  of 
woman  known  in  the  world. 

In  1837  Miss  Lyon,  with  her  parents,  settled  in  Girard, 
Erie  Co.,  Pa.  In  1838  she  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  She  was  a  woman  of  uncommon  piety,  worth  and 
intelligence.  She  died  April  3d,  1862,  leaving  two  children, 
Orra  M.  and  Louella  E.  Ellis.  Alonzo,  a  third  child,  had 
previously  died  in  childhood. 

September  5th,  1863,  Dr.  George  Ellis  married  Miss 
Lizzie  Flower,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Josiah  Flower,  of  Poland, 
N.  Y.     She  died  Jan.  31st,  1873. 

September  7th,  1876,  Dr.  Ellis  married  his  present  wife, 
Miss  Sarah  F.  Mauck,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Lucy  Mauck, 
a  native  of  Virginia.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church 
in  Springfield,  and  is  a  woman  of  rare  culture  and  refinement, 
wholly  devoted  to  her  husband  and  family. 

Orra  M.  Ellis,  eldest  child  of  Dr.  George  Ellis,  was  born 
in  Springfield  in  1848.  He  married  Miss  Mahala  M.  Sher- 
man, of  Springfield,  July  9th,  1873.  ^^^^  was  born  in  East 
Springfield  in  1854.  They  are  farmers  in  Springfield  and 
members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Louella  E.  Ellis  was  born  in  Springfield  in  1858.  She 
has  been  engaged  for  some  years  as* a  teacher,  and  at  the 
present  time  in  the  high  school  at  West  Springfield.  She  is 
a  young  woman  of  superior  education  and  talents.  Miss 
Ellis  is  a  devoted  member  of  the  Christian  Church  in 
Springfield,  and  takes  a  leading  part  in  the  Church  choir  and 
Sunday  School. 

(603.)  MARSHALL  ELLIS  was  born  in  Springfield, 
Pa.,  in  1820  ;  is  a  farmer  and  carpenter  in  Springfield,  Pa. 
He  married  Martha  J.  Wil-^on,  of  Springfield.      She   was  a 


march  down  to  Fort  Massachusetts  at  North  Adams,  cross  the  Hoosac  mountain  over  to 
Heaih,  and  down  by  Buckland  and  Ashfield  ri.;ht  by  Aaron  Lyon's  farm  and  home,  to  f"rm 
a  junction  with  other  British  forces  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  colony.  In  the  face  of  this, 
Aaron  Lyon  and  the  committee  did  their  duly  ft-arlessly.  and  reported  the  names  of  nine 
prominent  and  influential  residents  of  Ashtield  as  "enemies  of  their  c  )untry  and  that  they 
should  be  brought  to  immediate  trial."  One  of  these  was  the  father-in-law  of  one  of  the 
committeemen,  which  shows  the  trying  situatioi  in  which  these  noble  patriots  were  paced 
and  the  fearless  manner  in  which  they  perlormed  their  duty.  Kortiinately  the  surrender  of 
Bui'joyne  near  Saratoga  before  his  pi  m  of  the  invasion  of  Massachusetts  was  e.\ecuted,  gave 
to  the  patriots  great  rejoicing  and  strengthened  their  cause,  while  it  greatly  depressed  the 
Tories,  and  even  won  some  of  them  over  to  the  cause  of  indepeadeoce. 


240 

sister  of  Aaron,  who  married  Mr.  Ellis'  sister  Sarah.  Mrs. 
Martha  J.  Ellis  died  in  1886,  leaving  one  son,  Harry  W., 
born  in  1868.  They  were  members  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

(605.)  LEONARD  ELLIS,  third  son  of  David,  Jr., 
was  born  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  in  1822.  He  married  Rhoda 
A.  Taylor  March  5th,  1854.  They  were  farmers  in  North 
Springfield,  where  Mr.  Ellis  now  resides.  Mrs.  Ellis  died 
in  1879,  leaving  four  children,  Elva  C,  born  1855;  Dora  S., 
1858;  Mina  P.,  1864,  and  Fred  T.,  1865.  For  his  second 
wife  Mr.  Ellis  married,  Oct.  24th,  1883,  Miss  Adelia  E.  Mal- 
lory,  a  very  refined  and  accomplished  lady. 

Dora  S.  Ellis  married  Curtis  Crew  July  19th,  1880. 
Their  children  are  Carl  Ellis,  born  i88r,  and  Claud  Crew, 
1885.  They  live  in  Ashtabula,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Crew  is  an 
engineer.     Mina  P.  Ellis  is  a  very  efficient  school  teacher. 

(607.)  PETER  ELLIS,  son  of  David,  Jr.,  was  born  in 
Springfield,  Pa.,  May  i8th,  1824.  He  married  Violet  Daven- 
port Feb.  nth,  1845.  They  are  thriving  farmers,  living  but 
a  few  rods  from  where  David  Ellis,  Sr.,  settled  in  Spring- 
field. They  have  three  children  living:  George  Wilbur, 
born  1852;  Hazen  W.,  1854,  ^"<^  Orman  F.,  1858. 

George  W.  married  Louisa  L.  Kohler  March  21st,  1877, 
in  Erie,  Pa. 

Hazen  W.  lives  on  the  farm  with  his  parents. 

Orman  F.  married  Louisa  C.  Shetler  May  24th,  1883,  and 
they  have  two  children,  LeRoy  F.,  born  1884,  ^"^  Carrie, 
1886. 

Mrs.  Violet  Ellis  was  bom  Oct.  3d,  1826.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Paul  Davenport,  who  was  born  in  Colerain, 
Mass.,  May  12th,  1796.  He  died  Oct.  15th,  1881.  His 
wife,  Rachel,  was  born  in  Colerain  Nov.  25th,  1798,  and 
died  July  29th,  1884. 

(609).  SARAH  ELLIS,  youngest  daughter  of  David 
Ellis,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Springfield,  Pa.,  in  1827.  She  mar- 
ried Mr.  Aaron  Wilson  and  resided  in  Springfield,  where 
Mr.  Wilson  is  a  farmer  and  painter  by  trade.  They  have 
one  child  living,  Clara  L.,  born  1866,  who  is  engaged  in 
teaching. 


241 

(611.)  ORMAN  F.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Springfield, 
Pa.,  Feb.  5th,  1829.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  Spring- 
field until  his  death,  May  25th,  1870.  He  married  Martha 
E.  Nelson  Sept.  23d,  1863.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  Nov.  i8th, 
1840,  in  Cussewago,  Crawford  Co.,  Pa.  Mrs.  Ellis  was 
the  youngest  daughter  of  James  A.  Nelson  and  his  wife, 
Jane  Patterson,  daughter  of  James  and  Nancy  (Holt)  Pat- 
terson, early  residents  of  Springfield,  Pa.  All  these  people 
were  Baptists.  Since  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Ellis  has 
lived  in  Erie,  Pa.  She  has  two  children,  Frank  H.,  born 
Nov.  25th,  1865,  and  Charles  M.,  born  March  6th,  1869. 
Frank  H.  is  an  engineer  in  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  Charles 
M.  lives  with  his  mother  in  Erie. 

Mr.  Orman  Flower  Ellis  was  a  man  of  strict  sobriety, 
uprightness  and  intelligence.  He  was  over  six  feet  high 
and  well  proportioned — a  splendid  specimen  of  physical  de- 
velopment. He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  could  ably  defend  its  doctrines.  He  was  a  great  reader 
and  a  well-informed  man;  in  politics,  an  ardent  Republican. 
He  was  a  man  who  had  the  friendship  and  good  will  of  all 
with  whom  he  was  acquainted. 


Children   of   Azel    Ellis    (209),    of   Marseilles,   Oblo,  Grand- 
children of  John,  Jr.  (68),  of  Piiles,  :n.  Y.,  Great-grand- 
children  of  L,ieut.  John,    Sr.  (151,  and  Great-grreat- 
srandchlldren    of    Richard,    of   Aahfleld. 
From    621    to    623. 

(621.)  EDWARD  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Azel  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November  7th,  1831.  He 
was  a  carpenter  and  builder.  He  died  August  17th,  1857, 
at  Marseilles,  Ohio.     He  was  unmarried, 

(622.)  PHEBE  ELLIS,  eldest  daughter  of  Azel,  was 
born  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  30th,  1834.  "^^^  married 
Mr.  John  Winslow,  March  3d,  1853,  in  Marseilles,  Ohio. 
They  had  one  child,  Harriet  Winslow.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wins- 
low  both  died  about  two  years  after  their  marriage.  Their 
daughter  Harriet  was  raised  by  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Lydia  Terry 
in  Canon  City,  Colorado,  where  she  now  lives. 


242 

(623.)  LYDIA  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Azel  Ellis, 
was  born  November  30th,  1841.  She  was  educated  at  Mar- 
seilles, Ohio,  and  at  16  years  of  age  became  a  teacher,  which 
occupation  she  tbllowed  several  years.  In  1865,  she  married 
Mr.  John  H.  Terry,  and  they  settled  in  Colorado.  Mr.  Ter- 
ry was  born*  in  Marion  County,  Ohio,  April  21st,  1838.  He 
was  engaged  in  mining  and  milling  at  Black  Hawk,  Col., 
until  1870,  when  he  removed  to  Canon  City,  Col.,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  was  elected  County  Judge  in  1872,  and 
again  in  1880.  He  is  now  extensively  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  raising.  They  have  three  children,  William  L. , 
born  1866;  Nellie,  1872,  and  Joe,  1874. 


Ctalldren  of  Hiram   Ellis  (ax4)t  of  Klles,  Cayuga  Co.,  M.  Y. 

627  to  629. 

(627.)  REV.  ELISHA  ELLIS  was  born  in  Niles,  N. 
Y.,  in  1837.  In  1856,  he  married  Miss  Lovina  Welden,  and 
they  have  three  children:  Edwin,  born  1858;  Egbert,  1866, 
and  Clark,  1874.  Mr.  Ellis  was  ordained  as  a  minister  in 
the  Christian  denomination  in  1869,  to  which  he  gives  his 
entire  time  and  labor.  He  resides  at  Westbury,  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.     Mr.  Ellis  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army  three  years. 

(629.)  HANNAH  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Hiram  Ellis, 
was  born  in  Niles,  in  1834.  ^^^  married  William  Cole,  in 
1856,  and  had  three  children:  Clovy,  Edwin  and  Ella.  Mr. 
Cole  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army,  and  died  in  the  ser- 
vice.    His  wife  died  in  1873. 


Children   of  Capt.  Ellsba  Ellis  (216),  of  Fartnersirllle, 
Posey  Co.,  Indiana.    630  to  638. 

(630.)  NANCY  ELLIS,  eldest  child  of  EUsha,  was 
born  at  Farmersville,  Ind.,  in  1829.  In  1848  she  married  H, 
W.  Holleman,  and  had  two  children:  Elizabeth,  born  1849, 
and  Elisha,  1850.  The  latter  died  in  1858.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Holleman  both  died  in  1852.  Elizabeth  Holleman  married 
Richard  Russell. 


243 
(632.)     ELIZABETH  ELLIS,   born  in   1831,  married 
Felix  Duckworth  in  1849.     She  died  in   1853,  leaving  two 
children,  both  of  whom  have  since    died.     Mr.  Duckworth 
was  born  about  1828,  and  died  in  1872. 

(636.)  ANN  ELLIS,  born  in  1836,  married  Sidney 
Allyn,  of  Farmersville,  in  1854.  Mr.  Allyn  died  in  1884. 
They  have  five  children,  all  born  in  Farmersville.  Hannah 
Allyn,  born  1855,  married  Lee  Frothingham,  and  they  have 
two  children:  Sylvia  and  Sidney. 

Thena  Allyn,  born  1857,  married  Neal  Reno,  and  they 
have  two  children. 

Elisha  Allyn  married  Laura  Lewis,  and  they  have  one 
child. 

•Indiana  Allyn,  born  1867,  lives  with  her  mother  in  Far- 
mersville. 

(638.)  JOHN  DATID  ELLIS,  youngest  son  of  Capt. 
Elisha  Ellis,  was  born  in  Farmersville,  Ind.,  in  1839.  He 
married  Harriet  Russell  in  1862,  and  resides  in  Farmersville. 
They  have  had  six  children:  Elisha,  born  1863;  Samuel,  a 
twin  brother  of  Elisha,  died  the  same  year;  Grant,  1865; 
John,  1870;  Jay,  1872,  and  Birchard,  1876.  All  live  in  Far- 
mersville. 

Mr.  John  David  Ellis  is  a  farmer  on  the  homestead  of  his 
parents. 


CliilflreM  of  Rlcliarcl  Cllls  (218),  of  Jackson,  Hardin  Co., 

Oblo,  Grandcfaildreu   of  Jolin  Ellis,  Jr.  (68),  of 

Bllles,  Cayngra  Co.,  M.  V.    Prom  640  to  650. 

( 640. )  ISAAC  NEWTON  ELLIS,  son  of  Richard,  was 
born  in  Niles,  N.  Y,,  January  22d,  1829,  and  now  lives  at 
Marseilles,  Ohio.  He  owns  the  place  which  his  mother  pur- 
chased and  lived  on  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  in  1853. 
He  is  unmarried  and  lives  with  his  sister  and  her  husband, 
Mrs.  and  Mr.  Phillips. 


244 
(648.)  CATHARINE  ELLIS  was  born  in  Niles,  N. 
Y.,  April  2ist,  1833.  She  married  Dr.  C.  J.  Rodig,  July 
15th,  1854,  in  Toledo.  He  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Union 
army,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Tenn,,  Octo- 
ber i6th,  1864,  leaving  two  children:  Johanna  and  Lena. 
Johanna  married  Robert  Mouser. 

Mrs.  Rodig  was  again  married  to  Richard  Willard,  Sep- 
tember 5th,  1866.  They  had  four  children:  Ines,  Clara, 
Marion  and  Clyde. 

Mr.  Willard  and  family  reside  at  Bellbrook,  Green  Co., 
Ohio.     They  are  Presbyterians. 

(644.)  MARY  ANN  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Richard  Ellis, 
was  born  April  i8th,  1837.  She  married  Samuel  Phillips  in 
Marseilles,  Ohio,  October  nth,  1857.  Mr.  Phillips  was  born 
June  i8th,  1835.  They  live  in  Marseilles.  They  have  had 
ten  children,  of  whom  seven  are  now  living.     See  page  62. 

John  W.  Phillips,  their  eldest  son,  is  travelling  for  a  dry- 
goods  house  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.  Eva  O.  married  J.  L. 
Hastings,  a  far.Tier  in  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio.  James  E.  is  in  a 
dry-goods  store  in  Marion,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Samuel  Phillips  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army,  144th  Ohio  National 
Guards.  Mrs.  Phillips  is  a  Presbyterian.  Mr.  Phillips  car- 
ries on  business  in  Marseilles. 

(646.)  WILLIAM  M.  ELLIS  was  born  May  25th,  1845, 
in  Jackson  township,  Hardin  County,  Ohio.  He  married 
Maggie  A.  Keyes,  of  Niles,  N.  Y.,  January  6th,  1869.  She 
was  born  August  26th,  1843.  They  have  had  six  children, 
of  whom  five  are  now  living.     See  page  62. 

Mr.  Ellis  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army  three  years, 
Company  A,  123d  Reg.  Ohio  Vol.  He  was  in  the  battle  of 
Winchester,  Va.,  was  wounded  in  the  breast,  the  ball  passing 
through  a  testament.  He  was  a  prisoner  in  Libby  and  Belle 
Isle  prisons  thirty-three  days,  when  he  was  exchanged  and 
joined  his  regiment,  after  which,  he  was  in  battles  at  New 
Market,  Va.,  Opequon,  Va.,  Round  Top  Mountain,  Cedar 


245 
Creek,  Hatcher's  Run,  High    Bridge  and  at    Appomattox 
Court  House,  when  the  rebels  surrendered.     Since  returning 
from  the  army,  he  has  been  in  the  grocery  and  dry-goods 
business  in  Kenton,  Ohio,  where  he  now  lives, 

(648.)  RICHARD  S.  ELLIS  was  born  August  loth, 
1831.     He  died  September  23d,  1854,  unmarried. 

(649.)  SYLVIA  JANE  ELLIS  was  born  October  25th, 
1835.  She  died  in  1874.  ^^^  married  Mr.  John  Kishler, 
November  7th,  1852.  The}-  had  five  children.  See  page  63. 
Mrs.  Kishler  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Mr,  Kishler  now  lives  in  Marion,  Ohio.  ^  He  is  a  Presby- 
terian, as  is  also  his  present  wife. 


Clilldreu  of  Hon.   Pitts  Cllls  (xaeoi,  of  Genesee,   MTisconsln. 
Prom   652  to   657. 

(652.)  HELEN  MINERVA  ELLIS,  was  born  at  North 
Prairie,  Waukesha  County,  Wis.,  July  i6th,  1842.  She  was 
married  at  Genesee,  Wis.,  Nov,  6th,  1861,  to  Mr,  Judson 
Shultis.  They  have  no  children.  Their  residence  is  at  North 
Prairie,  Waukesha  Co.,  Wis.  Mr.  Shultis  has  been  a  mer- 
chant for  many  years,  but  is  now  engaged  in  farming. 

(653.)  LODOSKA  S.  ELLIS  was  born  October  26th, 
1845,  ^^  Genesee,  Wis,  She  married  Mr,  Alexander  R. 
Benzie,  August  2d,  1866.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benzie  are  members 
of  the  Advent  Christian  Church.  They  live  in  Burns,  La 
Crosse  County,  Wis.,  where  Mr.  Benzie  is  a  farmer.  They 
have  five  children.  See  page  63.  Mr.  Benzie  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Union  army  three  years.  He  is  of  Scotch  parentage, 
and  is  a  strictly  temperance  man. 

(665.)  PITTS  B.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Genesee,  Wis., 
January  3d,  185 1.  He  married  Nellie  Doane  in  1875.  They 
have  one  child,  Richard  Claude  Ellis,  born  in  March,  1882. 
They  live  at  Eau  Claire,  Wis.  Mr,  Ellis  is  in  the  railroad 
employ  at  Eau  Claire, 


246 

(657.)  ANNIE  A.  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Hon.  Pitts 
Ellis,  was  born  at  Genesee,  Wis.,  November  20th,  1854.  -Sbe 
married  Mr.  Lewis  Barling,  Feb.  14th,  1875,  J"  Genesee. 
He  was  born  in  1848,  of  English  parents.  They  have  no 
children.  They  reside  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  where  Mr. 
Barling  is  a  salesman  in  a  wholesale  grocery  house. 


Clilldren  of  John  J.  Ellis  (222),  of  Sennett,  Cayugra  Co.,  9{.  v. 
Prom  659  to  667. 

(659.)  JOHN.  R.  ELLIS  was  born  Oct,  13th,  1839,  i" 
Niles,  N.  Y.  His  first  two  wives  were  sisters  named  Dirgy. 
Married  in  Throop,  Cayuga  Co.  By  his  first  wife  he  had 
one  son,  Charles,  born  about  1863,  in  Throop.  Mr.  Ellis 
married  his  third  wife  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y. 

(661.)  MARTHA  ELLIS  was  born  March  i6th,  1844, 
in  Niles,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.  She  married  William  Wood 
and  lived  in  Throop,  N.  Y.,  where  her  two  children  were 
born.  Eva  Wood,  the  eldest,  about  1866.  The  youngest 
died  in  infancy. 

(663.)  MYRON  ELLIS  was  born  in  Niles,  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  October  nth,  1845.  He  married  in  Ohio,  and  has 
two  children.     They  reside  at  Marseilles,  Ohio. 

(667.)  NEWTON  S.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Niles,  Cayu- 
ga Co.,  N.  Y.,  December  8th,  1855.  He  married  Emma 
Amerman  in  December,  1885.  Mr.  Ellis  is  a  book-keeper 
by  occupation  and  now  resides  in  Auburn,  N.  Y. 


Children   of  Benjamin   Ellis   1225),   of  Marseilles,   Otilo. 
669  to  683.     See  pai^e  35. 

(671.)  JOHN  H.  ELLIS  was  born  April  i8th,  1843,  in 
Niles,  N.  Y.  He  married  Jane  McCleary,  and  they  have 
two  children :  John  and  Elenora,  both  born  in  Marseilles,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Ellis  and  family  now  live  in  Kenton,  Hardin  Co.,  Ohio- 


247 
(675.)     CLARENCE  L.  ELLIS,  son  of  Benjamin,   was 
born  March  24th,  1848.     He  married   Miss  Alice  Sweet,  of 
Dunkirk,  Ohio.  Dec.  nth,  1884.     Mr.  Ellis  is  a  farmer  and 
resides  at  Marseilles,  Ohio. 

(677.)  MARY  E.  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Benjamin,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  December  25th,  185 1.  She  married  Mr.  Vin- 
cent Long,  March  27th,  1870,  They  reside  at  Marseilles, 
Ohio.  They  have  three  children :  Arnold  Vill  Roy,  Sylvester 
Hugh,  and  Charles  Russell  Long. 

(683.)    MELINDA  L.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Ohio,  Dec. 

nth,    1861.     She  lives  at  Marseilles,  Ohio. 


Cbildren  of  Ebenecer  Kills  (297),  of  Parmersvllle,  Indiana. 
From  685  to  695. 

(685.)  JULIA  ELLIS  was  born  in  Farmersville,  Tnd., 
March  i8th,  1840.  She  married  John  H.  Mockett  in  Gen- 
esee, Wis.,  March  14th,  i860.  Mr.  Mockett  was  born  in 
Broadstairs,  England,  August  ist,  1840.  They  have  four 
children :  John  H.  Jr.,  Edwin  R.,  Frederick  E.  and  Ebenezer 
E.  The  two  first  were  born  in  Genesee,  and  the  two  last  in 
Stark,  Vernon  County,  Wis.  Mr.  Mockett  and  family  reside 
at  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  Mr.  M.  and  eldest  son  are  engaged 
in  Life  and  Fire  Insurance  business.  Edwin  R.  is  a  steno- 
grapher for  the  Governor  of  Nebraska,  with  his  office  at  the 
Capitol. 

(687.)  SOPHRONIA  ELLIS  was  born  in  Farmersville, 
Indiana,  Feb.  21st,  1842.  She  married  Richard  Hobbs 
Mockett  in  Genesee,  Wis.,  April  24th,  1861.  They  now  live 
in  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  where  Mr.  M.  is  in  Life  Insurance 
business.  He  is  a  brother  of  John  H.  Mockett  above,  and 
was  born  in  Broadstairs,  England,  February  13th,  1838. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mockett  have  two  children,  born  in  Genesee, 
Robert  S.  and  Edith  T.,  both  students  in  the  University  of 
Nebraska.  "^ 


248 

(689.)  EDWIN  ELLIS  was  born  in  Farmersville,  In- 
diana, February  27th,  1844.  He  married  Eliza  J.  C. 
Mockett,  sister  of  John  H.  and  Richard  H.  Mockett  above. 
Mrs.  Ellis  died  in  1872,  leaving  one  son,  Willie  E.  Ellis,  born 
February  17th,  1870,  at  Janesville,  Wisconsin.  He  lives 
with  his  uncle  and  aunt,  Richard  and  Sophronia  Mockett. 
Mr.  Edwin  Ellis  is  a  locomotive  engineer  on  the  Union 
Pacific  Railway  and  resides  at  Jefferson,  Col.  He  was  a 
Union  soldier,  and  served  in  the  28th  Wis.  Vol.  Infantry  over 
three  years. 

(691.)  HARRIET  LLLIS  was  born  in  Farmersville, 
Ind.,  September  15,  1847.  She  married  Andrew  Dean,  at 
Stark,  Wis.,  January  ist,  1869.  They  now  live  at  Arkansas 
City,  Kansas,  and  have  five  children.  Mr.  Dean  was  born 
in  Medina,  Ohio,  July  i8th,  1847.  Of  their  children,  Mabel 
was  born  in  Wisconsin,  Nov.  26th,  1869.  Nellie  in  Wiscon- 
sin, June  13th,  1872.  Asa,  Dec.  7th,  1875.  Ellis,  Nov.  13th, 
1877,  and  Mary,  May  loth,  1880.  The  last  three  were  born 
in  Cuming  County,  Nebraska. 

(693.)  PITTS  ELLIS,  son  of  Ebenezer,  was  born  at 
Farmersville,  Indiana,  on  a  farm  three  miles  east  of  Mount 
Vernon,  January  23d,  1852.  He  moved,  in  the  spring  of 
1859  with  ^^^  parents,  to  Genesee,  Wis.,  and  in  1866  to  Viola, 
Richland  County,  Wis.  In  July,  1880,  Mr.  Ellis  married 
Miss  Olive  L.  Rose,  at  Scranton,  Green  County,  Iowa.  In 
1881,  Mr.  Ellis'  family  settled  in  Arkansas  City,  Kansas, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  grain.  His 
parents,  Ebenezer  and  wife,  now  reside  with  him. 

(696.)  MARY  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Ebenezer 
Ellis,  was  born  at  Farmersville,  Ind.,  Nov.  25th,  1854.  ^^^ 
married  Frank  Clark,  April  14th,  1876.  Mrs.  Clark  died 
Dec.  22d,  1879;  Mr.  Clark  died  in  Dec,  1880.  They  had 
two  children,  Clara  and  Samuel.  The  latter  was  born  Dec. 
14th,  1879,  ^"  Cuming  County,  Neb.,  and  died  in  August, 
1880.  Clara  E.,  the  eldest,  lives  with  her  grand-parents  in 
Dexter,  Mich. 


449 

Clilldreu   of  Antbony   W.    Gills   ( 231 ),   of  Oiwasco,   Cay U8:a 

County.  K.  Y.      Prom   708  to  713. 

(708.)  ELIAS  ELLIS  was  born  Nov.  loth,  1844,  at 
Owasco,  N.  Y.  He  married  Elizabeth  Duryea  in  Novem- 
ber, 1865.  They  are  farmers  in  Owasco,  on  a  farm  adjoining 
Mr.  Ellis'  father,  Anthony  W.  Ellis.  Mrs.  Ellis  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  Duryea,  of  Niles,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y. 
Her  mother  was  Huldah  Forbush,  half-sister  to  Cyrus  and 
Edward  D.  Ellis.     See  page  112. 

(710.)  ISAAC  NEWTON  ELLIS  was  born  at  Owasco 
N.  Y.,  April  7th,  1846.  He  is  unmarried,  and  a  farmer  and 
Hves  with  his  parents  in  Owasco. 

(713.)  BELLA  JANE  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  An- 
thony W.  Ellis,  was  born  at  Owasco,  Feb.  13th,  1864.  She 
married  Joseph  W.  Brinkerhoff,  October  22d,  1884  They 
are  farmers  at  Owasco,  N.  Y. 


children   of  Cyras  Ellis   (233),   of   Billes,   Cayug^a    County, 

9(.   v.,    Grandcliildren   of    Edvirard   EUls  (70),    ot 

Biiles,  K.  v.,  Great-srrandoblldren  of  I.leat. 

Jolin  (IS)  and  Oreat-great-grrand- 

Gtalldren  of  Rlcliard  EUls 

of  Asbfield.    Prom 

715  to  731. 

(715.)  EDWARD  D.  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Cyrus,  was 
born  in  Niles,  N,  Y.,  about  five  miles  north  of  Moravia, 
April  2d,  1826.  He  married  Mary  Camp  in  December,  1850. 
They  had  two  children:  Camp,  born  1 851,  and  Mary,  1858. 
Camp  Ellis  lives  in  Dennison,  Iowa,  is  married  and  has  two 
children.  Mary  Ellis  married  Mr.  Stark;  has  two  children, 
and  lives  at  Siou^c  Falls,  Dakota. 

Mr.  Edward  D.  Ellis  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army, 
and  died  in  the  service  while  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  March 
22d,  1865.  Mr.  Ellis  settled  at  Omro,  Wis.,  in  1856,  and  was 
living  at  that  place  when  he  enlisted  in  the  army. 


250 

(717.)  POLLY  ELLIS  was  born  at  Niles,  N.  Y.,  June 
6th,  1828.  She  married  Thomas  W.  Baker,  Oct.  11,  1854. 
Mr.  Baker  died  in  1877.  Mr.  Baker  was  a  lumberman  at 
Manitowac,  Wis.  They  had  three  children:  Clara,  born 
1855.  Emma,  1856,  and  Ellis  Baker,  1863.  Clara  Baker 
married,  July  13th,  1874,  ^^-  ^*  ^*  Curtis,  a  homeopathic 
physician  of  Owasco,  N.  Y.  Their  children  are:  Lulu  May, 
Nellie  V.,and  Fred  A.  Curtis.  Emma  Baker  married,  Dec. 
28th,  1875,  Dorr  Van  Arsdale,  a  farmer  in  Moravia,  N.  Y. 
Mrs.  Polly  Baker  now  lives  with  and  is  house-keeper  for  her 
brother  Birch  Ellis. 

(719.)  MINERVA  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Cyrus,  was 
born  in  Niles,  Nov.  i6th,  1829.  She  was  married  in  Niles, 
February  5th,  1852,  to  Edward  H.  Deuel.  Mrs.  Deuel  died 
Dec.  i6th,  1872,  leaving  one  child:  Mary  Jane,  who  married 
in  1880  George  Conklin,  a  farmer,  of  Niles.  They  have 
one  child:  Eddy  Conklin.  Mr.  Edward  H.  Deuel  was  born 
August  20th,  1819,  in  Stamford,  Duchess  County,  N.  Y. 

(721.)  CLARISSA  ELLIS  was  born  March  15th,  1832. 
She  married  Edgar  Selover,  of  Niles,  Dec.  29th,  1880.  They 
are  farmers  and  live  in  Owasco,  N.  Y. 

(723.)  HIRAM  ELLIS  was  born  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  March 
28th,  1834.  ^^  married  Margaret  Van  Etten,  July  7th, 
1859.  They  are  farmers  in  Niles.  They  have  two  children: 
Levi  L., born  1861,  and  Henry,  1863.  Levi  L.Ellis  married 
Lura  Bissell,  of  Owasco,  N.  Y.,  July  4th,  1882.  They  have 
one  child:    Hattie,  born  December  31st,  1884. 

(726.)  CYRUS  ELLIS,  JR..  was  born  in  Niles,  March 
20th,  1836.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Union  army  and  died 
in  the  service  at  Brownsville,  Arkansas,  Sept.  5th,  1863.  He 
enlisted  at  Manitowoc,  Wis.,  in  1862,  in  the  27th  Regiment, 
Wis.  Volunteers. 

(727.)  BIRCH  ELLIS  was  born  at  Niles,  N.  Y.,July 
3rd,  1838.  He  married  Gertrude  Selover,  of  Niles,  Nov. 
7th,  1866.  His  wife  died  August  19th,  1871,  leaving  one 
child:  Gertie  S.  Ellis,  born  July  17th,  1871.     Mrs.  Ellis  was 


251 

born  Dec.  28th,  1837,  Mr.  Ellis  and  daughter  now  live  in 
Auburn,  N.  Y.,  where  Mr.  Ellis  is  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business.  He  is  a  strong  temperance  man  and  is  widely 
noted  for  his  firm  political  and  temperance  principles.  Mr. 
Ellis  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army  and  was  the  only  one 
of  four  sons  of  his  father's  family  who  returned  alive.  His 
three  brothers  gave  their  lives  to  the  cause  of  liberty  and 
Union.  Mr.  Birch  Ellis  enlisted  Sept.  15th,  1863,  in  Battery 
C,  I  St  Wisconsin  Heavy  Artillery'.  He  was  in  the  battles  of 
Chattanooga,  Mission  Ridge,  and  Lookout  Mountain.  He 
was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war,  Oct.  17th,  1865. 

(729.)  HENRY  F.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Niles,  N.  Y., 
Feb.  9th,  1843.  He  was  a  Union  soldier,  and  died  in  the  ser- 
vice at  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  April  20th,  1863.  He 
enlisted  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  in  the  75th  Regiment,  N.  Y.  Vol. 

(731.)  MILES  M.  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Cyrus 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Niles,  N.  Y.,  July  8th,  1846.  He  married 
Ellen  M.  Cleveland,  of  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  23d,  1870. 
He  lived  on  the  farm  with  his  parents  until  their  death.  He 
moved  to  Hastings,  Adams  County,  Nebraska,  in  April,  1886, 
where  he  is  in  the  real  estate  and  loan  business.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ellis  have  five  children:  Arthur  C,  born  in  Niles, 
March  8th,  1872;  Fred,  Feb.  5th,  1875;  Cyrus  H.,  May 
i6th,  1876;  Herbert  L.,  Aug.  5th,  1880,  and  Frank,  Sept. 
14th,  1886,  in  Hastings,  Nebraska.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Ellis' 
father,  Cyrus  Ellis  (233),  was  the  first  male  child  born  in  the 
town  of  Niles  or  Sempronius,  in  1799. 


Ctaildren   of  Hon.   Ed'ward  D.  Ellis  (235)»  of  Monroe,  Hlcli. 
Prom  733  to  740. 

(733.)  MARY  MINERYA  ELLIS  was  born  at  Mon- 
roe, Mich.,  Nov.  19th,  1831.  She  married  Dr.  E.  R.  Ellis, 
(751)  of  Detroit,  Mich.  For  further  sketch  of  her,  see  No. 
751,  pages  254  and  257. 


252 

(736.)  AMELIA  ELLIS  was  born  in  Monroe,  Mich., 
Dec.  17th,  1833.  After  the  death  of  her  father  in  1848,  she 
Hved  with  friends  in  central  New  York  for  several  years, 
after  which,  she  resided  in  Chicago,  Hi.,  with  her  brother  John 
for  a  time.  She  never  married,  and  was  never  of  robust 
health,  being  afflicted  with  rheumatism  most  of  her  life.  She 
died  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  Jan.  7th,  1887.  She  had  lived  for  ten 
or  twelve  years  past  with  her  sister  Minerva,  and  after  the 
death  of  the  latter,  with  her  husband  and  family.  She  was 
a  Presbyterian,  and  a  woman  of  good  character,  generosity 
and  unusual  industry.  Her  great  desire  was  to  be  just  and 
do  good  to  all. 

(736.)  E.  CHARLES  ELLIS  was  born  in  Monroe, 
Mich.,  June  23d,  1835.  He  never  married.  He  was  a  Union 
soldier,  and,  after  the  war,  went  west,  and  no  report  of  him 
has  been  had  for  many  years. 

(737.)  JOHN  C.  C.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Monroe,  Mich., 
June  2d,  1837.  Dec.  24th,  1863,  he  was  married  in  Lansing, 
Mich.,  to  Miss  Lucy  Jane  Whitaker,  and  they  went  to  Chi- 
cago, 111.,  where  they  resided  and  raised  their  family  of  three 
children.  About  1875,  ^^-  Ellis,  being  in  feeble  healthy 
went  to  Florida  and  the  south  to  spend  a  few  months  in 
travel.  The  last  report  of  him  was  from  Memphis  at  a  time 
when  an  epidemic  of  yellow  fever  was  raging.  There  was 
an  extensive  scattering  of  the  people  in  all  directions,  and 
Mr.  Ellis'  name  was  reported  soon  after  among  the  dead  in 
Louisville,  Ky.  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and 
sobriety.  Like  his  father,  he  w?s  quite  a  politician  and 
stump  speaker  in  political  campaigns.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Detroit,  Mich.,  in  1844.  ^'^^  ^^  ^  woman  of  good  sense, 
uncommon  industry  and  devotion  to  her  family.  For  her 
second  husband,  she  married  Mr.  Charles  Case,  of  Canon 
City,  Colorado,  where  they  now  reside.  Mr.  Case  is  a  prom- 
inent and  highly  respected  man  there,  engaged  in  railroad 
business. 

Mr.  Ellis'  children  are:  Harriet  A.,  born  Oct.  i6th,  1864; 
Ada  L.,  Nov.  3d,  1866,  and  Lewis  T.,   October  26th,  1869. 


253 
Harriet  A.  Ellis  married,  in  1882,  Mr.  E.  J.  Reilly,  and 
they  reside  at  South  Pueblo,  Col.     Ada  L.  Ellis  was  a  school 
teacher,  is  now  married  and  lives  at  South  Pueblo. 

Lewis  T.  Ellis  lives  with  his  mother,  Mrs.  Case  and  Mr. 
Case,  in  Canon  City.  He  is  said  to  be  a  very  scholarly  and 
promising  young  man. 

(739.)  ELIZABETH  T.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Monroe, 
Mich.,  October  7th,  1841.  She  lived  in  Chicago  the  later 
years  of  her  life  with  her  mother  and  brother  John  C.  Ellis. 
About  1867  she  married  Mr.  Louis  Voyer,  and  they  went 
to  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  she  died  the  following  year.  She 
was  a  very  amiable  and  scholarly  young  woman. 

(740.)  BENJAMIN  F.  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Hon. 
Edward  D.  Ellis,  was  born  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  Sept.  4th,  1844. 
When  four  years  of  age  his  father  died  and  he  went  to  Niles, 
N.  Y.,  in  care  of  his  uncle  Cyrus  Ellis  (233).  Here  he  lived 
with  Mr.  Lloyd  Slade,  of  Sempronius,  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  rebellion,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army.  Com- 
pany A.  75th  Reg.,  N.  Y.  Vol.  He  was  but  16  years  of 
age,  and  as  he  was  quite  small,  he  was  advised  to  go  into  the 
service  as  an  officer's  assistant,  but  he  declined  this,  and  in- 
sisted on  carrying  a  gun  and  being  a  thorough  soldier.  He 
was  a  soldier  about  four  years,  and  went  through  the  entire 
war.  Just  before  the  time  for  his  discharge,  from  exposure 
and  fatigue,  he  was  attacked  with  mental  derangement, 
and  was  transferred  to  the  Government  hospital  for  insane 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  of  which  institution  he  has  been  an 
inmate  ever  since.  As  a  young  man,  he  is  said  to  have  been 
remarkably  bright,  scholarly  and  promising,  strictly  sober, 
upright  and  conscientious.  Patriotism  and  duty  were  strong 
with  him.  His  company  officers  say  of  him  that  "he  was 
steady,  reliable,  obedient  in  discipline,  always  in  his  place, 
and  in  every  way  a  model  soldier."  It  was  said  that  he  was 
the  "  literary  man  "  of  his  company,  so  fond  was  he  of  read- 
ing, and  in  foraging  parties  books  were  the  first  thing  which 
he  sought  to  secure. 


254 

Clillclreii    of   Dea.    RIctaard    Ellis    (2J9<»    of  BeldiiiK,    micli. 

Graudctiildren    of  Dea.  Dlinick    Ellis  (72),  Oreat- 

Krandclilldren  of  I^leut.  John  Ellin  (15),  and 

Great-Kreat-Kcandoliildren  of  Ricb- 

ard    Ellis,   all  of   Aslifleld. 

From    749  to   751. 

(749.)  C.  DIMICK  ELLIS  was  born  in  Pittstown, 
(Boyntonville)  Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  24th,  1829. 
In  the  spring  of  1844  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  field- 
ing, (Otisco  township),  Mich,  where  he  now  resides  on  the 
farm  on  which  his  parents  settled  in  1844.  This  farm  is  on 
the  north  side  of  Flat  River,  part  of  which  is  now  included 
in  the  thriving  village  of  fielding.  Besides  farming,  Mr. 
Ellis  deals  in  agricultural  machines  and  implements  of  all 
kinds.  He  is  a  prominent  citizen,  and  has  been  town  super- 
visor three  years.  April  30th,  1862,  he  married  Miss  Eliza 
Antoinette  Lockwood,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  Mrs.  Ellis 
was  born  in  Clinton,  Mich.,  in  1842,  but  lived  most  of  her 
youth  at  Grand  Rapids.  She  is  a  woman  of  unusual  beauty, 
purity  and  loveliness  of  character,  beloved  by  all.  For  20 
years  or  more  she  has  been  a  member  of  the  New  Jerusa- 
lem Church.  Her  father,  Mr.  Edward  Lockwood,  now  79 
years  old,  lives  with  her.  Her  mother  died  in  fioone,  Iowa, 
in  1884,  and  her  sister,  Mrs.  Louisa  Church,  at  the  same 
place,  in  May,  1887. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  have  two  children,  both  born  at  field- 
ing: Mae,  1863,  and  William  E.,  1867.  fioth  "reside 
at  home,  where  William  E.  works  the  farm.  Mr.  Dimick 
Ellis'  mother,  Hannah  Ranney  Ellis  (240),  born  in  Ashfield 
in  1805,  still  lives  with  him  on  the  farm  where  she  and  her 
husband,  Dea.  Richard  Ellis  (239),  settled  in  1844. 

(751.)  DR.  ERASTUS  R.  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of 
Dea.  Richard  Ellis,  was  born  at  Pittstown,  N.  Y.,  March 
3rd,  1832.  At  12  years  of  age  his  parents  settled  in  Otisco, 
(now  fielding)  Ionia  County,  Mich.,  where  he  helped  to  clear 
up  a  farm  of  wild  land  and  erect  the  buildings  thereon. 
Mechanics  being  more  to  his  taste  than  farming,  he,  from  16 
to  19  years  of  age  took  jobs,  a  portion  of  the  time  to  put  up 


255 
buildings.  In  185 1  and  '52  he  attended  St.  Mark's  College 
in  Grand  Rapids,  and  took  courses  in  surveying  and  engineer- 
ing. In  August,  1853,  his  uncle,  Dr.  John  Ellis,  of  Detroit, 
offered  him  special  advantages  for  studying  medicine,  which 
he  accepted.  In  1854  ^"^  '55  ^^  attended  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor.  In. 
1857  he  graduated  at  the  Cleveland  Homeopathic  College, 
and  began  practice  at  Owosso,  Mich.  At  the  end  of  one 
year  he  settled  in  Grand  Rapids,  where  he  practised  until  the 
fall  of  1867,  when  he  removed  to  Detroit,  where  he  now 
resides. 

April  22d,  1857,  Dr.  Ellis  married  Minerva  Ellis  (733),  a 
second  cousin,  daughter  of  Hon.  Edward  D.  Ellis  (235),  of 
Detroit.  They  were  married  in  Belding  by  Elder  Wilson 
Mosher,  of  the  Christian  Church.  They  have  had  five  child- 
ren: Elizabeth  B.,  Helen  M.,  Jessie  R.,  Edward  D.,  and 
Anna  Belle. 

Elizabeth  Burpee  Ellis,  born  in  Owosso,  Mich.,  May  i8th, 
1858,  graduated  at  the  Detroit  High  School  and  was  a  teacher 
for  six  or  seven  years.  June  30th,  1887,  she  married  Alex- 
ander Marcus  Gunn,  of  Heppner,  Oregon.  Mr.  Gunn  car- 
ries on  blacksmithmg  business  in  Heppner,  and  has  a  large 
ranch  a  few  miles  from  that  town.  Himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  New  Jerusalem  Church.  He  was  born  in 
St.  Thomas,  Ontario,  January  lOth,  1851.  His  parents,  Mar- 
cus and  Catharine  McPherson  Gunn  were  born  in  Scotland. 
Mr.  Marcus  Gunn  was  born  about  1800,  and  his  second  wife, 
Catharine,  about  1824.  Mr.  Gunn  died  in  London,  Ontario, 
in  1878.  He  was  a  printer,  and  published  the  St.  Thomas 
"Observer"  for  a  number  of  years.  His  children  were :  Jessie 
M.,  married  Thomas  Truesdale,  and  they  reside  at  Cedar 
Grove,  N.J. ;  Emily  J.,  married  Giles  Reed,  and  they  live 
in  Kingston,  New  Mexico;  Isabel  lives  in  Kingston,  New 
Mexico;  Alexander  M.  (and  wife,  above  mentioned)  in  Hepp- 
ner, Oregon;  John  C,  Charlotte  and  Nellie.  The  last  three 
live  with  their  mother  in  London,  Ontario. 


2S6 

Mr.  A.  M.  Gunn  left  London,  Canada,  in  1879,  for  the 
West.  He  spent  a  short  time  in  California,  and  then  settled 
in  Heppner,  the  county  seat  of  Morrow  County,  Oregon. 

Helen  Minerva  Ellis  was  born  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich., 
Dec.  2d,  i860.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the  Detroit  High  School 
and  a  member  of  the  New  Jerusalem  Church  in  Detroit. 
She  married  Mr.  J.  Seward  Andrews  Sept.  nth,  1883,  and 
they  have  one  daughter:  Marion  E.,  born  August  24th,  i885« 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrews  have  a  fine  residence  at  950  Fourth 
Ave.,  Detroit.  Mr.  Andrews  was  born  in  Detroit  Sept.  2d, 
1851.  His  father,  John  L.,  was  a  Captain  on  the  lakes  for 
many  years.  His  mother  now  lives  on  Fourth  Avenue,  near 
her  son.  Her  children  are:  Josephine  E.,  a  teacher  in  Col- 
orado; James  Seward  (above),  Letta  C,  who  married  Dr. 
John  J.  Hood,  and  after  his  death  in  1884,  his  brother,  Reter 
M.  Hood,  of  New  Paltz,  N.  Y.,  in  1886,  where  they  now 
reside,  and  Prudence  E.,  born  1856,  died  1883,  in  Detroit. 

Captain  John  L.  Andrews  was  born  in  Vermont  April  7th, 
1821.  His  father,  Joel  Andrews,  sr.,  was  born  in  Vermont 
Feb.  27th,  1785.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  settled  in 
Michigan  about  1823  or  24,  at  or  near  Newport,  on  the  St. 
Clair  river,  where  he  died  of  cholera  about  1832.  Captain 
John  L.  Andrews'  wife  (mother  of  J.  Seward  Andrews 
above),  was  Miss  Caroline  Guedett,  born  in  Walkerville, 
Canada  (opposite  Detroit),  May  7th,  1827.  Her  father, 
Joseph  Guedett,  died  when  she  was  young.  Her  mother 
afterwards  married  a  Mr.  Crampton,  and  now  lives  at  St. 
Clair,  Mich.,  a  very  aged  lady. 

Jessie  Ranney  Ellis  was  born  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich., 
February  17th,  1863.  She  attended  the  Detroit  High  School 
three  years,  after  which  she  learned  telegraphy,  which  she 
has  since  followed.  She  is  a  member  of  the  New  Jerusalem 
Church,  of  Detroit. 

Edward  Dimick  Ellis  (named  from  his  maternal  grandfather 
235)  was  born  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  April  19th,  1867.  He 
attended  the  Detroit  High  School  three  years,  and  at  18  years 
of  age  entered  a  wholesale  hardware  store.     He  is  now  liv- 


«S7 
ing  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  and  is  salesman  and  purchasing 
agent  for  Belknap  Brothers'  wagon  and  iron  works.     He  is 
a  member  of  the  Detroit  Light  Guard,  and  also  of  a  company 
in  Grand  Rapids,  and  takes  much  interest  in  military  affairs. 

Anna  Belle  Ellis,  youngest  child  of  Dr.  Erastus  R.  and 
Minerva  Ellis,  was  born  in  Detroit,  Dec,  nth,  1873.  She 
died  June  8th,  1874,  ^  delicate  but  very  bright  child. 

Mrs.  Minerva  Ellis,  (>ee  733,  page  251)  wife  of  Dr.  E. 
R.  Ellis,  was  a  woman  of  uncommon  worth,  purity  and 
strength  of  mind  and  character.  When  quite  young  she 
learned  type-setting  in  her  father's  printing  office,  which  she 
followed  after  his  death  in  1848,  and  until  about  the  time  of 
her  marriage  in  1857.  In  early  life,  she  joined  the  Detroit 
Society  of  the  New  Jerusalem  Church,  to  which  she  was 
devotedly  attached  for  over  thirty-three  years.  She  under- 
stood the  doctrines  of  the  church,  it  was  said,  more  thor- 
ughly  than  any  other  member,  and  that  she  lived  them 
most  conscientiously  all  agreed.  While  she  entertained 
very  decided  opinions  on  morality  and  religious  subjects,  she 
was  never  obtrusive  in  presenting,  although  ever  ready  to  de- 
fend them.  In  all  respects  Mrs.  Ellis  was  a  most  devoted 
wife  and  mother,  one  whose  memory  is  worthy  of  endur- 
ance forever.  She  died  in  Detroit  Aug.  i6th,  1884,  of 
acute  inflammation  of  the  brain. 


Chlldreu  of  I«ewlH  Hlllt*  (241  it  of  BeldlnK»  Sflcli.    754  to  757. 

(75*.)  GEORGE  B.  ELLIS  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Mass., 
in  1837.  When  five  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Otisco, 
Mich.,  and  settled  at  what  is  now  Belding,  on  the  north  side 
of  Flat  River,  where  they  now  live.  George  B.  was  a  very 
bright  and  promising  young  man.  He  died  in  1851.  His 
parents  had  lost  five  other  children,  all  sons,  in  infancy,  one 
of  whom,  John,  died  before  their  removal  to  Michigan. 

(756.)  GEORGE  W.  ELLIS,  youngest  son  of  Lewis 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Belding,  Mich.,  Sept.  26th,  1851.  He 
attended  the  schools  at  home  and  afterwards  the  High  School 
in  Chicago,  III.  When  about  21  years  of  age  he  entered  the 
silk  store  of  Belding  Bros.  &  Co.,  Chicago  branch.  He  also 
was  traveling  salesman  for  the  same  firm  for  several  years, 


^58 

until  1881,  when  he  was  made  manager  of  the  Philadelphia 
house  of  the  same  company.  This  branch  of  the  business, 
by  skill  and  good  management,  he  has  built  up  and  increased 
to  a  very  flourishing  condition.  As  his  father  is  aged  and 
in  poor  health,  he  carries  on  the  farm  at  Belding,  which  he 
superintends  and  visits  two  or  three  times  a  year.  He  is  a 
man  of  uncommon  worth,  talent,  business  capacity  and  integ- 
ritv.  Mr.  Ellis  married  Miss  Sophia  Sheridan  Belding,  in 
Chicago,  June  28th,  1877.  Miss  Sheridan  was  born  near 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Jul}'  loth,  1852.  At  an  early  age  she  was 
adopted  into  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hiram  H.  Belding, 
of  Chicago.  Mrs.  Ellis  is  a  very  bright  and  highly  respected 
woman.  They  live  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  Their  home  is  on 
the  heights  of  German  town  Avenue,  No.  5304,  a  beautiful 
and  healthful  locality,  and  historical  as  being  the  ground  on 
which  the  battle  of  Germantown  was  fought  between  the 
American  forces  under  Washington,  and  the  British,  during 
the  Revolution.  Although  this  is  nine  miles  from  Mr. 
Ellis'  place  of  business,  the  cars  take  him  back  and  forth  in 
about  twenty  minutes'  time,  and  from  forty  to  fifty  trains 
pass  over  the  road  each  day. 

(757.)  MARY  L.  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Lewis 
Ellis,  was  born  at  Belding,  Mich.,  1854.  She  married  Fred. 
E.  Ranney,  in  1875,  ^"^  ^^^J  ^^^^  three  children:  Ellis  W., 
born  1878;  Carrie  L.,  1880,  and  Hattie  B.  Ranney,  1883. 

Mr.  Ranney  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  in  1853.  His 
parents  were  Charles  Ranney  and  Nancy  Davis,  his  second 
wife.  Mr.  Charles  Ranney  was  a  brother  of  Hannah  Ran- 
ny  (240)  and  a  son  of  Jesse  Ranney,  who  purchased  of 
David  Ellis,  in  1818,  the  old  Reuben  Ellis  farm  (see  page  69). 
Mr.  Fred.  E,  Ranney  was  born  and  reared  on  this  place. 
When  a  young  man  he  went  to  Belding,  where  he  now  lives. 
He  is  superintendent  and  general  manager  of  the  Belding 
Refrigerator  Works,  where,  from  12  to  15  thousand  elegant 
household  refrigerators  are  made  annually,  and  shipped  to  all 
parts  of  the  world.  This  is  one  of  the  large  manufacturing 
industries  in  Belding,  established  mainly  by  the  Belding 
Brothers  (see  page  117).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ranney  are  very 
worthy,  intelligent  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  Belding. 


259 
Ctalldren  of  Dr.  Jobn  Ellis  (S43).  of  Mew  York  CItjr. 

(769.)  ALFRED  ELLIS  was  born  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  in 
May,  1847.     He  died  in  July,  1848. 

(760.)  WILBUR  DIXON  ELLIS,  son  and  only  child 
living  of  Dr.  John  Ellis,  was  born  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  Sept. 
13th,  1848.  When  about  twelve  years  of  age  his  father 
moved  from  Detroit  to  New  York  City,  where  they  both 
now  reside.  Mr.  W.  D.  Ellis  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Detroit  and  New  York,  and  also  the  High  School  in  the 
latter  city.  When  a  young  man  he  was  employed  for  a 
time  in  the  New  York  silk  house  of  Belding  Bros.,  until  he 
was  about  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  became  interested 
with  his  father  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  lubricating 
oils.  Mr.  Theo.  M.  Leonard  became  a  partner,  and  through 
their  united  efforts  a  very  large  business  has  resulted.  (See 
page  180.)  Their  New  York  store  and  depot  is  at  157 
Chambers  street,  and  their  oil  works  or  refinery  at  Edge- 
water,  N.  J.,  directly  across  the  Hudson  river  from  the  tomb 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Mr.  Ellis  is  also  extensively  engaged  in 
cattle  and  horse  raising  in  Montana,  where  he  has  three 
extensive  "  ranches,"  or  ranges.  These  are  near  Big  Tim- 
ber, on  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  and  not  far  north 
from  the  famous  Yellowstone  National  Park.  Into  this 
pursuit  Mr.  Ellis  has  put  considerable  money  and  a  great 
deal  of  enthusiasm  in  breeding  and  raising  superior  and 
thoroughbred  horses  and  cattle.  He  usually  spends  a  few 
weeks  or  months  of  the  hot  season  in  that  section  for 
recreation,  as  well  as  business.  Mr,  Ellis  is  a  man  of 
unusual  business  capacity,  talent  and  success.  Himself  and 
wife  have  traveled  extensively  in  Europe,  as  well  as  all 
parts  of  this  country.  They  have  an  elegant  brown-stone 
residence  at  136  West  72nd  street,  New  York  City,  within 
one  block  of  the  elevated  railroad  and  Central  Park. 

Seventy-second  street,  on  which  Mr.  Ellis  resides,  runs 
from  Central  Park  about  sixty  rods  westerly  to  the  bank  of 
the  Hudson  river,  where  it  joins  the  lower  end  of  the  great 
Riverside  Boulevarde,  the  most  elegant  driveway  on  this 
continent.  The  latter  winds  along  the  bluffs  of  the  river  for 
about  three  miles,  to  its  upper  end,  where  it  terminates  in  a 
wide  plateau,  on  which  is  situated  the   tomb,  and  proposed 


26o 

monument  of  General  Grant.  This  locality  overlooks  the 
Hudson,  and  is  one  of  the  most  sightly  about  New  York. 
Mr.  Ellis  married  Miss  Harriet  Delta  Chittenden,  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  ist,  1875.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  in  Nichols, 
Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  22d,  1853.  Her  parents  were  Curtis 
B.  Chittenden,  born  in  Durham,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y,,  June 
30th,  1825,  and  his  wife,  Harriet  Tutton,  born  in  Westbury, 
Wiltshire,  England,  June  13th,  1838.  .She  died  in  New  York 
City,  October  ist,  1881.  Mr.  Chittenden  is  now  living  in 
Montana.  Mrs.  H.  Delta  Ellis  was  reared  mostly  in  Albany, 
where  her  parents  resided.  She  is  a  woman  of  uncommon 
refinement,  generosity  and  sociability. 


MATTHEW    ELLIS 

J^ISTID     HIS      IDESClEISriDJ^IiTTS 


(13.)  MATTHEW  ELLIS,  third  son  and  sixth  child 
of  Richard  Ellis,  of  Ashfield,  was  born  in  Easton,  Mass., 
Dec.  19th,  1739.  When  the  earlier  pages  of  this  book  were 
printed  but  very  little  trace  of  him,  and  none  of  his  descend- 
ants, had  been  found.  (See  pages  17  and  74.)  Diligent 
inquiry  since  then  has  enabled  the  writer  to  give  herewith 
some  account  of  him  and  his  posterity.  His  name  and  date 
of  birth  is  found,  with  that  of  Richard  Ellis'  other  children, 
in  Easton.  In  the  early  records  of  Huntstown  (now 
Ashfield),  where  Richard  Ellis  settled  in  about  1742, 
Matthew's  name  is  found  in  several  places.  When  Richard 
left  Huntstown,  and  settled  in  Colerain,  Mass.,  about  1764, 
Matthew  went  with  him,  and  according  to  later  reports 
remained  there  until  his  death,  about  the  year  1800.  About 
1775  Matthew  Ellis  married  Miss  Hannah  Clark,  of  Cole- 
rain.     (Her  name  is  given  as  Hannah  and  Anna  Clark.) 

As  to  Miss  Clark's  parentage,  or  to  which  family  of 
Clarks  she  belonged,  does  not  now  appear.  She  may  have 
been  a  daughter  of  the  William  Clark  mentioned  on  page 
75.      The  Clarks  were  numerous  in  Colerain. 

As  stated  on  page  13,  Richard  Ellis  kept  a  country  store 


26l 

in  Colerain  from  1764  to  about  the  close  of  the  Revolution- 
ary War.  In  his  account  book  the  writer  finds  the  names 
of  Claries  as  follows,  under  dates  from  1765  to  1768  : 
William  Clark  the  First,  William  Clark  the  Second,  James 
Clark,  George  Clark,  John  Clark,  Alexander  Clark,  all  of 
Colerain  ;  Samuel  Clark,  John  Clark  and  James  Clark,  Jr., 
of  Halifax,  and  Alexander  Clark,  of  Deerfield.  (Halifax  is 
in  Vermont,  and  is  the  first  town  on  the  north  of  Colerain. 
Deerfield  is  about  ten  miles  southeast  from  Colerain.) 

In  Richard  Ellis'  account  book  is  found  these  charges  : 
"Jan.,  1773. — William  Clark,  Dr.,  to  cutting  rail-cuts  by 
Matthew,  155."  "May,  1769. — John  Stewart,  Cr.,  by  paid 
Matthew,  £1  :  15s." 

Matthew  Ellis  had  ten  children — seven  sons  and  three 
daughters,  as  follows  :  Jane,  Noah,  Seth,  Levi,  Lurena, 
Enos,  Eliphalet,  Reuben,  Sally  and  David,  all  born  in 
Colerain.  The  youngest,  David,  was  bom  in  1798.  When 
he  was  about  two  years  of  age  his  father  died.  Soon  after 
his  mother,  Matthew's  widow,  married  a  Mr.  Haskell,  and 
removed  with  her  children  to  Keene,  N.  H.,  about  forty 
miles  northeasterly  from  Colerain.  Some  years  later  she 
removed  to  Thetford,  Vt.,  which  is  near  the  Connecticut 
river  and  about  ninety  miles  north  of  Colerain.  As  her 
children  grew  up  they  scattered  to  various  parts  of  the 
country,  except  Noah  and  Seth,  who  settled  on  farms  in 
Thetford,  where  they  raised  families  and  lived  to  old  age 

JANE  ELLIS,  eldest  child  of  Matthew  Ellis,  was  born 
in  Colerain,  Mass.,  about  1776.  She  married  Caleb  Brooks. 
They  lived  in  Vermont,  and  had  four  children  :  Joseph, 
William,  Caleb  and  Mary.  William  Brooks  raised  a  large 
family.  Joseph  had  none.  Joseph,  William  and  Mary 
Brooks  lived  and  died  in  or  near  Antwerp,  Jefferson  Co., 
N.  Y.;  also  their  parents. 

NOAH  ELLIS,  eldest  son  of  Matthew,  was  bom  in 
Colerain  Dec.  9th,  1777.  He  married  Miss  Nancy  Dow,  of 
Stratford,  Vt.,  Aug.  28th,  1805.  She  was  bora  Oct.  12th 
1784,  a  daughter  of  William  Dow  and  Rachel  Chace,  de- 
scendents  of  Aquilla  Chace,  who  settled  in  Mass.  in 
1630.     She  died  in  Thetford,  Vt.,  Sept.  i6th,  1850.    He  died 


262 

in  Dunning  Prairie,  Wis.,  in  the  autumn  of  i860.  They 
were  both  members  of  the  Methodist  church  many  years. 
They  were  greatly  respected  and  beloved  people.  They 
had  ten  children,  all  born  in  Thetford,  Vt.:  Rachel,  Lydia, 
Warren,  Sabra,  Chace  Dow,  Dyer,  Mary  Ann,  Sarah  Ann, 
Adaline  J.  and  Harriet.  All  are  now  dead  except  Dyer, 
who  lives  at  Redfield,  Dak.;  Adaline  J.  Peck,  in  Hancock, 
Minn.,  and  Harriet  Miller,  in  Stanton,  Minn. 

Rachel,  eldest  child  of  Noah,  was  born  May  i6th,  1806. 

Lydia  Ellis  was  born  Jan.  7th,  1808,  married  Dr.  Solo- 
mon Warde  July  i8th,  1830,  in  Thetford.  They  lived  in 
Ohio,  Indiana  and  Morristown,  Minn.,  where  she  died  in 
1869.  Dr.  Warde  died  there  at  about  the  age  of  70  years. 
They  had  seven  children  :  Mary,  Finette,  Amplias  G., 
Curtis  D.,  Lodema,  Philena  and  Melvin  Warde.  Mary 
married  C.  Denman,  a  farmer  near  Northfield,  Minn.  They 
have  four  children.  Finette  married  C.  Eldred,  and  they 
live  in  Montevideo,  Minn.  Amplias  G.  and  Curtis  D. 
Warde  are  married  and  live  in  Minneapolis,  and  are  real 
estate  agents.  They  were  both  soldiers  in  the  Union  army. 
Lodema  Warde  is  married  and  lives  in  Montana.  Philena 
Warde  married  S.  Wilder.  They  have  two  children,  and  live 
in  Morristown,  Minn.      Melvin  Warde  lives  in  Minneapolis. 

Warren  Ellis,  son  of  Noah,  was  born  Dec.  29th,  1809  ; 
married  Diaploma  Eastman  in  Union  Village,  Vt.  After 
living  in  Thetford  many  years,  they  moved  to  Beaver  Dam, 
Wis.,  where  he  died.  Mrs.  Ellis  married  Mr.  Woodward 
and  now  lives  in  Beaver  Dam.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  had 
five  children  :  James,  Marvin,  Amelia,  Marshall  and  War- 
ren, Jr.  James  Ellis  died  in  Thetford,  aged  about  14  years. 
Marvin  died  in  Beaver  Dam,  aged  about  16  years.  Amelia 
married  Mr.  Hood  in  Beaver  Dam.  He  was  a  soldier  and 
died  in  the  service,  leaving  three  children:  Effie,  the  eldest, 
is  a  telegraph  operator  at  Horicon,  Wis.;  Charles  died  in 
Beaver  Dam  in  1881,  and  Verne  Hood  now  living  in  Beaver 
Dam.  Mrs.  Amelia  Ellis  Hood  was  married  again  to  Mr, 
Livermore,  a  lawyer  at  Beaver  Dam.  They  have  three 
children.  Marshal  Ellis  is  married  and  lives  in  Wisconsin. 
Warren,  Jr.,  lives  in  Hurley,  Minn.,  and  has  three  children. 


263 

Sabra  Ellis,  born  181 2  ;  Chace  Dow,  1814,  and  Mary 
Ann,  1818,  children  of  Noah  Ellis,  all  died  in  Vermont. 

Dyer  Ellis,  born  May  9th,  1816,  married  Christiana 
Davvsey  in  Ohio,  Jan.  24th,  1839.  -They  lived  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Thetford  about  12  years,  when  they  all  moved  to 
Dunning  Prairie,  Wis.,  where  his  father  died.  He  was  a 
Union  soldier.  He  now  lives  at  Redfield,  Dak.  He  had  six 
children  :  Arlington  C,  Adaline  J.,  Fred,  May,  Frank  and 
Georgia  Ann.  Arlington  C.  was  a  Union  soldier.  He  now 
lives  in  Shasta,  Cal.,  unmarried  and  in  poor  health.  Adaline 
J.  married  D.  N.  Hunt,  a  real  estate  agent  and  lawyer  of 
Redfield,  Dak.  They  have  three  children.  Fred,  May  and 
Frank  Ellis  died  in  Wis.  and  Minn.  Georgia  Ann  married 
m  1887  Albert  Dikeman.     They  live  in  Redfield. 

Sarah  Ann  Ellis,  daughter  of  Noah,  born  June  21,  1822, 
married  Halsey  J.  Yarrington  in  1839,  in  Thetford.  They 
lived  at  Norwich,  Vt.,  where  she  died,  leaving  four  children : 
Horace  J.,  Jackson,  Nelson  and  Merrill.  Horace  is  married 
and  lives  at  Stratford,  Vt.  He  was  a  Union  soldier. 
Jackson  died  at  five  years  of  age,  and  Nelson  at  21.  Merrill 
is  married  and  lives  in  Thetford.      He  was  a  Union  soldier. 

Adaline  J.  Ellis,  born  Jan.  13th,  1829,  married  Ira  Peck 
at  Dunning  Prairie,  Wis.,  in  1857.  They  were  farmers. 
Mr.  Peck  died  in  1883.  They  had  four  children  :  Arthur 
D.,  Alice  May,  Alfred  Chace  and  Arlie  J.  Peck.  Arthur 
D.  is  married,  is  a  farmer  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Stanton,  Minn.  Arlie  J.  Peck  is  married  and  lives  at  Han- 
cock, Minn.     His  mother  now  lives  with  him. 

Harriet  Ellis,  youngest  child  of  Noah,  was  born  Sept. 
lOth,  1830.  She  married  H.  D.  Miller  Jan.  4th,  1854,  "^ 
Thetford.  They  went  to  Wis.,  where  they  lived  four  years; 
then  to  Stanton,  Minn.,  where  they  now  reside.  They  have 
four  children  :  Alvin  E.,  born  1856,  is  married  and  lives  in 
Minneapolis  ;  Nelson,  bom  1861,  is  married  and  lives  on  the 
farm  in  Stanton.  Cora  E.,  born  1865,  married  and  lives  at 
Fergus  Falls,  Minn.;    Fred  C,  born  1868,  is  in  Minneapolis. 

SETH  ELLIS  was  boni  in  Colerain,  Mass.,  Oct.  14th, 
1779.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Thetford,  Orange  Co.,  Vt.,  all  his 
life,  and  died  there  May  22nd,  1869,  aged  90  years.     About 


264 

i8o5  he  married  Hannah  Bartlett,  of  Norwich,  Windsor 
Co.,  Vt.,  and  after  her  death,  Feb.  24th,  1835,  ^*^  rnarried 
Mary  F.  Burnap,  of  Norwich.      The  latter  died  Feb.  14th, 

1868.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  were  Presbyterians.  Mr.  Seth 
Ellis  and  his  brother,  Noah,  after  the  death  of  their  father, 
took  charge  of  the  family-  They  bought  a  farm  in 
Thetford,  and  as  their  brothers  and  sisters  grew  up  most 
of  them  went  to  New  York  or  farther  west.  Besides 
farming  Noah  and  Seth  Ellis  built  two  saw-mills  in  Ver- 
mont. They  were  in  business  together  about  twelve  years, 
when  each  of  them  bought  nice  farms  for  that  country. 
Seth  Ellis  had  eleven  children  :  Hannah,  born  1806  ; 
William  B,,  1808  ;  Stephen  B.,  1810  ;  George  C,  1813  ; 
John,  1815  ;  Lucinda,  1817  ;  Major  E.,  1819  ;  Reuben  H., 
1822  ;  Henry,  1825  ;  Mary  Jane,  1827,  and  Ellenor,  1838 
— all  born  in  or  near  Thetford,  Vt. 

Hannah    Ellis  lived   with  her  father  until  his  death  in 

1869,  when  she  went  to  Mauston,  Wis.,  where  she  lived 
with  her  sister,  Lucinda  E.  Peck.     She  died  in  1885. 

William  Burton  Ellis  married  Louisa  Dickinson,  of  Old 
Hadley,  Mass.,  about  1835.  ^^^  '^^^^  Jii"^  ist,  1840.  They 
had  four  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  A 
daughter,  Hannah  M.,  married  Mr.  Charles  French,  and 
they  lived  in  Rumney,  N.  H.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
William  B.  Ellis  married  Rosetta  Bos  worth,  and  they  lived 
near  Copenhagen,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had  two 
children,  JLouisa  and  William.  The  latter  married  and 
went  to  Kansas.     His  sister  went  with  them  to  Kansas. 

Mr.  William  B.  Ellis  died  in  Wattsburg,  Erie  Co  ,  Pa., 
about  1879.     He  was  a  farmer  and  hotel-keeper. 

Stephen  Bartlett  Ellis,  son  of  Seth,  of  Thetford,  Vt., 
born  1810,  married  Abigail  Newcomb  in  Thetford,  May  3d, 
1832.  They  had  four  children  :  A.  Elmina,  Amanda  P., 
Henry  E.  and  Sarah  O.  The  eldest,  Abigail  Elmina,  born 
Feb.  14th,  1833,  married  Nathan  Andrews  June  3d,  1852, 
and  they  live  in  Meriden,  N.  H.,  where  Mr.  Andrews  is  a 
farmer.  They  have  had  twelve  children  :  John  S.,  Abbie 
O.,  Charles  H.,  Addison  W.,  Sarah  A.,  Nathan  R.,  Seth 
E.,  Emma  G.,  Frank  B.,  Minnie  E.,  Lillian  E.  and  Clarence 


265 

E.  The  eldest,  John  S.  Andrews,  born  1853,  married 
Carrie  L.  Packard,  and  they  have  one  child,  Cora.  Abbie 
O.  Andrews,  born  1854,  married  James  A.  Sloan,  and  they 
have  four  children  :  Ernest  H.,  Arthur  A.,  Herbert  A.  and 
Cleon  N.  Sloan.  Charles  H.  Andrews,  born  1856,  married 
Verona  Farnsworth  October  loth,  1876.  Sarah  and  Minnie 
Andrews  died  in  childhood. 

Amanda  P.  Ellis,  second  child  of  Stephen  B,,  married 
Thomas  Merrill  Rugg  Nov.  27th,  1856.  Mr.  Rugg  was  a 
farmer.  He  died  in  1883,  aged  51  years.  They  had  four 
children  :  George  E.,  born  1862  ;  Luvina  L.,  1866,  mar- 
ried Samuel  E.  Greeley;  Hattie  A.,  1874,  ^"*^  Chester,  1878, 

Henry  E.  Ellis,  born  Feb.  25th,  1841,  son  of  Stephen 
B.  Ellis,  went  into  the  army  in  1862,  He  was  wounded  and 
died  April  13th,  1865. 

Sarah  O.  Ellis,  youngest  child  of  Stephen  B.,  was  born 
in  Thetford  May  7th,  1844.  She  married  Henry  C.  Mace 
Dec.  26th,  1866.  They  have  two  children  :  Fred  E,,  born 
1869,  and  Henry  O.,  1871.     Mr.  Mace  is  a  teamster. 

Mr.  Stephen  B.  Ellis'  first  wife,  Abigail,  died  March  ist, 
1848,  aged  39  years.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  a 
widow,  Sarah  Dewey,  of  Thetford.  Mr.  Ellis  was  a 
farmer  and  stone-cutter.  He  always  lived  in  Thetford, 
where  he  died  July  i8th,  1877.  He  was  an  upright  and 
highly  respected  man. 

George  C.  Ellis,  third  son  of  Seth,  was  born  in  Thet- 
ford,Vt.,  Feb.  nth,  181 3.  He  married  and  lives  in  Union  village 
(Thetford  township).  He  writes  that  "  Robert  Fulton  (77) 
lived  in  this  town.  He  was  a  cousin  of  my  father.  His 
children  were,  so  far  as  I  know,  Stephen,  Elijah,  Henry, 
Jesse,  James  and  Minerva.  Robert  Fulton  came  here  from 
Colerain,  Mass."  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  James  Fulton 
and  his  wife,  Hannah  Ellis  (17),  of  Colerain.  Mrs.  Erastus 
Howard,  of  Thetford,  is  a  granddaughter  of  Robert  Fulton. 

Mr.  George  C.  Ellis  married  Julia  A.  Morse  Dec.  28th, 
1837.  Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  Aug.  i6th,  1816.  They  have  had 
five  children:  Susan  A.  Ellis,  born  July  9th,  1839.  ^^^ 
married  Elias  Foote  May  loth,  1859.  They  have  one  child, 
Frank.     Seth  C.  Ellis,  born  May  15th,  1841.      He  died  Nov 


266 

25th,  1854.  Emma  E.  Ellis,  born  May  ist,  1843,  died  Sept. 
5th,  1859.  George  Luman  Ellis,  born  Aug.  27th,  1849, 
married  Lizzie  Waterman  Nov.  25th,  1882.  They  have  one 
child,  Grace.  Lilla  G.  Ellis,  born  Sept.  6th,  1855,  died  Oct. 
7th,  1864.     All  born  in  Thetford,  Vt. 

John  Ellis,  son  of  Seth,  was  born  in  Thetford,  Vt., 
March  nth,  1815.  He  was  married  March  nth,  1839,  to 
Miss  Abigail  Peck,  of  New  Hampshire.  They  moved  to 
Harrisburg,  N.  Y.,  where  they  lived  seven  years  ;  thence 
to  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  living  there  nineteen  years.  In  1868 
they  settled  in  Fremont,  Iowa.  Mr.  Ellis  now  lives  at 
Greene,  Butler  Co.,  Iowa.  He  is  a  farmer.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church  over  35  years.  He  had 
eight  children  :  Abigail  L.,  married  C.  S.  Wheeler,  reside 
at  Calmar,  Iowa.;  Mary  J.,  married  W.  B.  Gilmore,  live  at 
Pipe  Stone,  Minn.;  Carrie  T.,  married  W.  Robinson,  live  at 
Fort  Atkinson,  Wis.;  John  M.,  lives  in  Greene,  Iowa ; 
Daphna  M.,  married  G.  J.  Preston,  live  at  Fort  Atkinson, 
Wis.;  Denzil  N.,  marrried  M,  A.  Pratt,  live  in  Greene, 
Iowa,  and  Inez  A.,  lives  in  Greene,  Iowa. 

Mrs. Abigail  Peck  Ellis  was  born  in  Wilmot,  N.  H.,  Jan. 
19th,  1816.     She  died  in  Fremont,  Iowa,  Oct.  26th,  1879. 

Lucinda  Ellis,  daughter  of  Seth,  was  born  in  Thetford 
in  1817.  She  married  Mr.  H.  Peck.  She  is  a  widow, 
living  in  Mauston,  Wis. 

Major  E.  Ellis,  son  of  Seth,  was  born  in  Thetford, 
where  he  now  lives,  a  farmer.  He  married  Roxana  Clogs- 
ton  in  1840.  She  died  in  1884.  They  had  five  children, 
three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Joseph  Ellis,  born  in  June, 
185 1,  and  Carrol,  in  March,  1861,  are  farmers  in  Thetford. 

Reuben  Hazen  Ellis,  son  of  Seth,  was  born  in  Thetford, 
Vt.,  March  21st,  1822.  When  16  years  of  age  he  went  to 
live  with  his  uncle,  Reuben  Ellis,  in  Centerville,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  was  married  to  Martha  A.  Eddy,  Nov.  2i3t,  1844.  ^^^ 
died  April  5th,  1849.  In  May,  1851,  Mr.  Ellis  married 
Ruth  Eddy,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  moved  to  Beaver 
Dam,  Wis.,  where  he  now  resides.  His  second  wife  died 
May  27th,  1870,  in  her  45th  year.  Jan.  23d,  1872,  Mr. 
Ellis  married  Lydia  Turner.      She  died  Aug.  7th,  1885,  at 


267 

the  age  of  53.  He  was  again  married  Jan.  19th,  1887,  to 
Miss  Anna  L.  Steptoe,  of  Beaver  Dam.  Mr.  Ellis  has  been 
a  farmer  and  cheese-maker  most  of  his  life.  He  moved  to 
Beaver  Dam  in  1849,  and  has  been  several  times  elected  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  to  the  Common 
Council  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Ellis'  children  were :  Shalon  W.,  born  1847  in 
Centerville,  died  1878  at  Beaver  Dam.  He  was  a  printer, 
and  for  two  years  a  Union  soldier.  AmeHa  J.,  born  1852, 
married  1882  to  E.  S.  Mason,  of  Beaver  Dam.  They  have 
two  children,  Ruth  and  Edna  Ellis  Mason.  Mr.  Mason  is  a 
book-keeper.  His  wife  had  been  a  school  teacher  about  15 
years  before  her  marriage.  Sarah  E.,  born  1855,  was  married 
in  1877  to  Maurice  E.  Henika,  of  Madison,  Wis.,  a  carpenter 
by  trade.  They  have  one  child,  Mabel  C,  bom  1879.  Mrs. 
Henika  died  in  1885  at  Beaver  Dam.  Anna  M.,  born  1857, 
died  1881.  She  was  a  school  teacher.  D wight  W.  Ellis, 
youngest  child  of  Reuben  H.,  was  born  in  Beaver  Dam 
Dec.  27th,  1868.  He  is  located  at  Schwartzburg,  Wis., 
where  he  is  station  agent  and  telegraph  operator  for  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railroad,  commencing 
there  when  15  years  of  age. 

Henry  S.  Ellis,  youngest  son  of  Seth,  was  born  in 
Thetford,  Vt.,  January  24th,  1825.  At  two  years  of  age  he 
became  a  mute  from  scarlet  fever.  He  was  well  educated 
at  Hartford,  Conn.,  where  he  married  a  mute.  They  had 
three  children,  Elsie,  Mary  and  John,  all  married  and  live  in 
or  near  Boston,  Mass. 

Mary  Ellis,  daughter  of  Seth,  was  born  in  Thet- 
ford, Jan.  4th,  1827.  She  married  William  Morse.  They 
lived  in  or  near  Union  Village.  She  died  young  and  childless. 

Ellenor  V.  Ellis,  youngest  child  of  Seth,  and  only  child  by 
his  second  wife,  was  born  in  Thetford  in  1838.  She  married 
a  Mr.  Pattrell,  and  resides  in  Norwich,  Vt. 

LETI  ELLIS  was  born  in  Colerain,  Mass.,  about  1785. 
In  early  life  he  went  to  Centerville,  N.  Y.,  where  his 
brother,  Reuben,  had  settled.  Soon  after  he  went  to 
Champion,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  on  a  farm.  He 
was  a  clothier  by  trade.     He  was  in  the  battle  of  Sackett's 


268 

Harbor  in  the  war  of  t8t2.  He  was  married  in  Champion 
in  1816,  and  reared  two  sons  :  Ephraim  C.  and  John  E. 
Ellis.  In  1836  Mr.  Levi  Ellis  visited  his  brothers,  Enos  and 
Eliphalet,  who  were  then  in  Vevay,  Ind.  Mr.  Levi  Ellis 
married  Mrs.  Anne  Chamberlain,  widow  of  Ephraim  Cham- 
berlain. Her  maiden  name  was  Coe,  from  Hartford,  Conn. 
She  was  born  in  1775,  and  died  in  Beaver  Dam,  Wis  ,  in 
1853.  She  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Champion.  Mr. 
Levi  Ellis  died  m  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  in  1849.  It  is  said 
that  he  bore  a  strong  resemblance  to  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis, 
whose  likeness  ma}'  be  seen  in  the  front  of  this  book.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Levi  Ellis  were  Presbyterians. 

His  eldest  son,  Ephraim  C.  Ellis,  was  born  in  Champion  in 
181 7.  He  married  Melissa  Wilcox,  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  1840.  They  had  six  children  :  Emma  C,  born  1841  ; 
Helen  M.,  1845  ;  Edward  L.,  1849;  Charles  H.,1851;  Fred 
E.,  1857,  and  Frank  O.,  in  1859.  Mr.  Fred  E.  Ellis  died 
in  Minneapolis  in  1881.  Emma  C.  married  James  Pettit^ 
Their  children  were  Lillie  and  Irving,  They  live  at  Cedar 
Springs,  Mich.  Helen  M.  Ellis  lives  at  Somerset,  N.  Y. 
Edward  L.  Ellis  married  Nellie  Hubbard.  They  have  one 
son  Dwight.  They  live  at  Somerset.  Charles  H.  Ellis  mar- 
ried Marietta  H.  Rice,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  They  have 
one  child,  Laura  M.  Mr.  Ellis  is  a  florist  in  Grand  Rapids. 
Frank  O.  Ellis  married  Estella  Webber  and  lives  in  Somerset. 

Mr.  Ephraim  C.  Ellis  is  a  farmer  in  Somerset,  Niagara 
Co.,  N.  Y.     Himself  and  family  are  Presbyterians. 

John  Everett  Ellis,  son  of  Levi,  was  born  in  Champion, 
N.  Y.,  August  20th,  1820.  Feb.  i8th,  1847,  he  married 
Harriet  M.  Burke  in  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.  Miss  Burke  was 
from  Windsor,  Vt.  They  now  reside  in  Murray,  Iowa. 
They  are  farmers.  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  Union  soldier  in  the 
Rebellion,  Co.  F.  ist  Reg.  Minn.  Heavy  Artillery.  He  was 
badly  disabled  and  is  now  a  pensioner.  Their  children  were: 
Mary  J.,  Frances  E.,  Laura  A.  and  George  Washington 
Ellis.  The  first  two  are  dead.  Mr.  John  E.  Ellis  and  fam- 
ily are  Methodists.  Of  their  children,  Mary  J.,  born  April 
I  3th,  1848,  died  in  1883.  She  married  James  V.  Rice  in 
1864.      Francis  E.,  born  May  31st,  1850,  died  1852.     Laura 


269 

A.,  born  Feb.  21st,  1852  ;  George  W.,  Oct.  i6th,  1856 — all 
born  in  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.  George  W.  Ellis  married  Anna 
E.  Long.     They  live  in  Clark  Co.,  near  Murray,  Iowa. 

LURENA  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Matthew,  was  born  in 
Colerain.  She  was  unmarried  and  lived  with  her  brother, 
Reuben  in  Centerville,  N.  Y.,  where  she  died  in  1856. 

ENOS  ELLIS,  son  of  Matthew,  was  born  in  Colerain, 
Mass.  He  went  to  Vevay,  Ind.,  about  1814.  But  slight 
trace  of  him  has  been  found  by  the  writer.  His  nephew, 
Reuben  (son  of  Eliphalel)  writes  that  "  Enos  joined  the 
Mormons  at  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  early  times,  left  them,  and  died 
about  1842  at  or  near  Warsaw,  111.  He  married  and  had  a 
family  of  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  Their 
names  were  Martin,  Hezekiah,  Electa,  Sarah  and  Eliza." 

Electa  is  said  to  have  married  Joel  D.  Clark,  and  lived 
at  Warsaw,  111.    Eliza  married  a  King,  and  lived  at  Warsaw. 

ELIPHALET  ELLIS,  son  of  Matthew,  was  born  in 
Colerain,  Mass.,  about  1787.  When  a  young  man  he  went 
to  Carthage,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  engaged  in  the 
batde  of  Sackett's  Harbor,  N.  Y.,  May  29th,  1813.  He 
and  his  elder  brother  Enos  went  to  Vevay,  Ind.,  about  1814. 
He  died  in  1844  in  Indiana.  He  was  an  upright  and  highly 
respected  man.  About  the  year  181 5  he  lived  for  a  time,  it 
is  said,  in  Kentucky,  He  married  for  his  first  wife  a  Miss 
Haines.  She  died  in  1823.  Her  children  were  :  George, 
born  1815  ;  Ann,  181 7  ;  William,  1819  ;  Enos,  1821,  and 
David,  1823.  In  1829  Mr.  Ellis  married  his  second  wife, 
Permelia  Hardy.  Her  children  were:  Matthew,  born  1830, 
died  in  infancy  ;  Reuben,  1834  '■>  Levi,  1836  ;  Sally,  1838. 

George  Ellis,  eldest  son  of  Eliphalet,  was  born  near  Big 
Bone,  Ky.,  in  1815.  He  died  near  Florence,  Ind.,  in  1886. 
He  had  ten  children  :  Ann,  Catherine,  Eliphalet,  killed  in  the 
army,  Jane,  Caroline,  James,  Emeline  and  George.  They 
live  near  Florence. 

Ann  Ellis  married  Andrew  Given  and  died  in  1859  near 
Florence,  where  her  family  now  live. 

William  Ellis  died  of  fever  in  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  in  1842. 

Enos  Ellis,  son  of  Eliphalet,  lived  near  Osavvatamie, 
Kas.     He  was  a    Methodist.      He  married  Sarah  Fuller  in 


270 

1840.  They  had  six  children  :  Ann,  Andrew,  Mary, 
Emeline,  Emma  and  William.     They  live  in  Kansas. 

David  Ellis  was  born  in  Switzerland  Co.,  Ind.,  in  1823. 
He  now  lives  near  Moscow,  Mo.  He  married  Mercy  Fuller 
in  1847,  and  has  one  child,  Cynthia,  who  married  a  Chis- 
holm  and  lives  at  Blue  Eagle,  Mo. 

Reuben  Ellis,  son  of  Eliphalet,  was  born  near  Florence, 
Switzerland  Co.,  Ind.,  in  1834.  He  married  Nancy  Skid- 
more  in  1854,  and  now  lives  near  Jackson,  Tipton  Co.,  Ind. 
Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  in  Henry  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1836.  They 
have  had  ten  children  ;  five  sons  and  one  daughter  are  now 
living.  Mr.  Ellis  and  family  are  "  Friends,"  or  Quakers,  in 
religious  belief.     Of  their  children — 

W.  D.  Ellis,  born  in  1858,  married  Mary  Hankens  in 
1880.  She  was  born  in  Ripley  Co.,  Ind.,  in  1863.  They 
have  four  children  :  Estella  Maj-,  Abilam,  Nancy  Ellen 
and  Elizabeth,  born  1886,  died  1887. 

Albert  Ellis,  second  son  of  Reuben,  was  born  in  i860  ; 
married  in  1881  to  Lydia  Newhouse.  Their  children  are  : 
Drury  V.,  bom  1882  ;  Louis,  1884,  and  Caly,  1886. 

Sally  Jane  Ellis,  daughter  of  Reuben,  born  in  1866, 
married  Joseph  McNew  in  1883.  They  have  two  sons  : 
Grimaldo  Otto,  born  1884,  and  Elmer,  1886. 

Eliphalet  Ellis,  son  of  Reuben,  born  1864,  married 
Florence  McCoy  in  1887.    She  was  born  in  Tipton  Co.  1865 . 

Erodis,  born  1868,  and  Marion  1872,  are  the  younger 
children  of  Reuben  Ellis,  of  Jackson,  Ind.  All  his  children 
were  born  in  Switzerland  Co.,  Ind. 

Levi  Ellis  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1836.  He  married 
Rachel  Jane  Skidmore  in  1859.  ^^^  ^^^  ^  sister  of  Reuben 
Ellis'  wife,  Nancy.  She  was  born  in  Henry  Co.,  Ky.,  in 
1840.  They  had  ten  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living, 
Martha,  Reuben,  John  and  Levi,  in  Tipton  Co.  Mrs.  Ellis  has 
since  married  Thomas  Ooten.  Levi  Ellis  died  in  1880.  He 
was  a  Baptist. 

Sally  Ellis,  youngest  child  of  Eliphalet,  was  born  in 
Indiana  in  1838.  She  married  Hiram  Hunt  in  1857,  and  had 
two  children,  Levi  and  Mary.  Mr.  Hunt  died  in  i860,  and 
Mrs.  Hunt  married  David  L.  Dunn,  and  had  four  children : 


Marion,  Reuben,  Jenny  and  William.  Reuben  is  dead. 
Mrs.  Dunn  died  in  1886,  They  are  Methodists.  They  live 
near  Vincennes,  Ind. 

Of  these  sons  of  Eliphalet  Ellis,  of  Indiana,  Enos, 
David,  Reuben  and  Levi  were  Union  soldiers  during  most 
of  the  time  of  the  Rebellion.  All  were  in  Co.  D.,  loth  Ind.  Cav. 

REUBEN  ELLIS,  son  of  Matthew,  was  born  in 
Colerain,  Mass.,  about  1790.  When  a  young  man  he 
settled  in  Centerville,  Alleghany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  about  181 1, 
where  he  was  a  farmer  and  a  man  widely  noted  for 
integrity  and  worth  of  character.  He  was  a  Presbyterian 
and  a  thorough  Christian.  He  married  Miss  Annie  Wood- 
ward, a  daughter  of  P.  B.  Woodward,  Esq.,  one  of  the 
earliest  and  most  prominent  settlers  in  Centerville.  Mrs. 
Ellis  died  in  1858,  and  Mr.  Ellis  in  1868.  They  left  no 
children.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Ellis'  brother,  David,  in 
1847,  two  of  the  latter's  children,  Mary  Ann  and  Henry, 
were  reared  by  their  uncle  Reuben  in  Centerville. 

SARAH  M.  ELLIS,  daughter  of  Matthew,  was  born  in 
Colerain.  She  was  married  in  Vermont  to  John  Tilden. 
They  moved  to  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  where  Mr.  Tilden 
died.  Mrs.  Tilden  moved  to  Kansas,  where  she  died. 
They  had  six  sons  :  Titus,  Franklin,  Daniel  E.,  Crawford, 
Levi  and  Carlos.  Several  of  them  were  living  near  Leav- 
enworth at  last  report. 

DAYID  ELLIS,  youngest  child  of  Matthew  Ellis,  was 
born  in  Colerain,  Mass.,  Aug.  3d,  1798.  When  a  young 
man  he  settled  in  Centerville,  Alleghany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  married  Eliza  Woodward  and  had  four  children  :  An- 
drew, Sarah  M.,  Matthew  Clark  and  Eliza.  Eliza  died  in 
infancy.  Mrs.  Eliza  Ellis  died,  and  David  Ellis  married  her 
sister,  Polly  Woodward.  They  had  four  children:  Mary 
Ann,  Darwin,  Henry  and  Wayland. 

In  1845  David  Ellis  moved  with  his  family  to  Beaver 
Dam,  Dodge  Co.,  Wis.,  where  he  died  Sept.  29th,  1846. 
Soon  after  Mrs.  Ellis,  with  her  four  young  children, 
returned  to  Centerville,  N.  Y.,  where  she  now  resides.  Mr. 
Ellis  and  wife  were  Presbyterians.  He  was  a  farmer. 
Mrs.  Ellis  was  born  in  Ashford,  Conn.,  in  1807.     She  was  a 


272 
sister   of  Annie    Woodward,    who    married    Reuben    Ellis 
(David's  elder   brother),  of   Centerville.      Mrs.  Polly  Ellis 
now  lives  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Allen,  in  Centerville. 

Of  David  Ellis'  children,  Andrew  died  aged  19  years.  Sarah  Maria  Ellis 
was  born  in  Centerville,  N.  Y.,  June  nth,  1822.  She  was  married  to  Peter 
Cole  in  September,  1841.  They  had  four  children  :  Mary  A.,  Frank  A.,  El- 
bert I),  and  Walter  G.,  all  living.  In  i86g  Mr.  Cole  and  family  removed  to 
Omro,  Wis.,  where  Mrs.  Cole  and  children  now  reside,  engaged  in  mercantile 
business.     M/.  Peter  Cole  died  in  1880. 

Of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole,  Mary  A.  was  bom  in  Centerville, 
N.  Y.,  in  1846,  and  was  married  in  March,  1869,  to  Chauncey  J.  Fox,  of  Cen- 
terville.    They  are  now  living  on  a  farm  in  Beatrice,  Dak. 

Frank  A.  was  bom  in  1854  and  married  the  third  daughter  of  Rev.  Jos. 
M.  Walker,  of  Wis.  M.  E.  Conference,  in  Sept.,  1882. 

Elbert  D.  was  born  in  1859,  and  Dec,  1880,  manned  Miss  Almeda  Frost, 
of  Vermont,  and  removed  to  Minnesota,  afterwards  to  Nebraska,  and  finally  to 
Beatrice,  Dak.,  where  they  now  live.     They  have  one  child,  a  daughter. 

Walter  G.  was  bom  in  1861.  Was  married  Dec,  1884,  to  Clara  C.  Car- 
penter, of  Dartford,  Wis. 

The  Cole  family  are  Presbyterians. 

Matthew  Clark  Ellis,  son  of  David,  was  born  in  Centerville,  N.  Y.,  Sept. 
nth,  1827.  In  1846  he  went  with  his  father  to  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  and  later 
to  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  where  he  lived  until  about  1871,  when  he  went  to  Minne- 
apolis, Minn.  Mr.  Ellis'  first  wife  was  Adaline  Gallant,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis. 
They  settled  in  Oshkosh,  where  Mr.  Ellis  was  a  farmer  and  subsequently 
engaged  in  the  flour  and  feed  business.  They  had  five  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Ellis  died  of  consumption  April  5th,  1862.  She  was  of 
English  descent,  and  a  Presbyterian.  Her  children  were:  Frances  A.,  Adel- 
bert  C.  and  Ida  V.  Ellis. 

For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Matthew  Clark  Ellis  married  Jane  E.  Morey,  of 
Oshkosh.  In  1871  Mr.  Ellis  moved  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  was  in  the  flour 
and  feed  business  until  his  death,  Aug.  I2th,  1874.  He  was  a  Presbyterian,  a 
kind  and  affectionate  husband  and  father,  and  a  highly  respected  man.  Mrs. 
Ellis  moved  to  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  where  she  lives  with  her  three  children, 
Nettie,  Jessie  and  Amanda. 

Frances  A.  Ellis,  daughter  of  Matthew  Clark  Ellis,  was  bom  Jan  30th, 
1851.  She  was  married  Sept.  20th,  1874,  to  Dr.  Uriah  D.  Thomas.  They 
have  three  children:  Cora  A.,  Ethel  A.  and  Ernest  C.  Dr.  Thomas  and  wif- 
are  Spiritualists.     He  practices  medicine  in  Minneapolis. 

Adelbert  Clark  Ellis  was  born  July  1st,  1852.  After  his  father's  death  in 
1874  he  remained  with  and  cared  for  the  family  for  several  years.  He  is  a 
clerk  for  a  fuel  company  in  Minneapolis.  He  was  married  Dec  25th,  1884,  to 
Ella  V.  Osborn,  of  Oshkosh,  Wis.  They  have  one  son,  Orison  A.  Ellis,  born 
Aug    15th,  1886.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellis  are  Methodists. 

Ida  Viola  Ellis  was  born  April  4th,  i860.  She  was  married  Dec.  24th, 
1879.  to  Mr.  M.  P.  Satterlee,  eldest  son  of  Rev.  W,  W.  Satterlee.  Mr.  Sat- 
terlee  is  a  printer.     Himself  and  wife  are  Methodists. 

Mary  Ann  Ellis,  daughter  of  David  Ellis  and  his  second  wife,  Polly 
Woodward  Ellis,  was  born  in  Centerville,  N.  Y  ,  Feb.  27th,  1836.  She  mar- 
ried Amasa  P.  Allen  in  i860.  They  have  had  five  children:  Alice  D.,  born 
1863;  Darwin  E.,  1865;  Lillian,  1868;  Clarence,  1874,  and  Raymond,  1878. 
Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Allen  live  in  Centerville,  N.  Y.  All  these  people  were  farmers, 
and  Presbyterians  in  religious  belief. 

Darwin  Ellis,  son  of  David,  was  bom  in  Centerville,  N.  Y.,  in  1839.  He 
enlisted  at  Centerville  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  and  died  May  12th, 
1864.  from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Va.  He  was 
unmarried. 

Henry  Ellis,  bora  in  Centerville,  N.  Y.,  in  1841,  was  a  Union  soldier. 
He  was  killed  by  the  cars  in  Illinois  in  1881. 

Wayland  Ellis,  youngest  child  of  David  Ellis,  was  born  in  Centerville, 
N.  Y.     He  died  young. 


APPENDIX 

TO 

Biographical  Sketches  of  Richard  Ellis 

AND    HIS   DESCENDANTS. 

Containing:  Sketches  of  Ashfleld,  Mass.,  where  Richard  Ellis  was  the  first 
Settler,  with  hrief  mention  of  other  localities  vrhere  the 
Elliges  have  resided,  and  other  Miscellane- 
ous Matter  of  Interest. 


The  following  paper,  by  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard,  is  now  pub- 
lished for  the  first  time.  The  manuscript  has  been  in  possession 
of  Mr.  Henry  S.  Ranney,  of  Ashfield,  over  fifty  years,  and  is 
printed  by  his  courtesy.  Mr.  Ranney  has  made  some  notes 
thereto,  which  are  designated  by  his  initials,  H.  S.  R. 

Rev.  Mr.  Shepard,  during  his  residence  in  Ashfield,  was 
highly  esteemed  by  all  the  people,  some  of  whom  are  yet  living, 
and  give  his  name  and  memory  with  honorable  mention.  His 
foresight  and  enterprise  in  writing  these  sketches  should  entitle 
him  to  the  gratitude  of  all  residents  of  Ashfield,  as  no  other  per- 
son, so  far  as  is  known,  had,  up  to  his  time,  written  any  connected 
history  of  the  town. 


L273] 


SKETCHES 

IN   THE 

HISTORY  OF  ASHFIELD,  MASS.,  FROM  ITS  FIRST 
SETTLEMENT  TO  THE  YEAR  1833. 


,  DEDICA  TION. 

To  the  inhabitants  of  the  First  Parish  in  Ashfield  over  whom  the  writer 
was  settled  in  the  Gospel  ministry  for  nearly  fourteen  years,  and  with  whom 
he  lived  in  uninterrupted  harmony  and  mutual  confidence,  these  sketches  in 
the  history  of  their  town  are  most  affectionately  and  respectfully  dedicated, 
by  their  most  obliged  and  obedient  servant. 

The  Axji'HOR. 

Amherst,  March,  1834. 

INTRODUCTION. 

It  cannot  be  expected  that  in  a  town  comparatively  of  such  recent  origin, 
and  so  retired  in  its  location  as  this,  should  afford,  in  the  progress  of  its  his- 
tory, many  events  of  general  interest.  To  those,  however,  who  were  bom 
and  educated  here,  and  to  those  who  now  live  here,  it  must  be  a  matter  of 
considerable  interest  to  know  who  were  the  pioneers  of  this  town,  and  what 
are  some  of  those  principal  events  that  have  transpired  here  since  the  howl  of 
the  wild  beast  was  alone  heard  through  the  forest,  which  spread  unbroken 
over  these  hills  and  vales,  now  verdant  under  the  cultivating  hand  of  a  numer- 
ous and  thriving  population.  To  the  generations  that  may  come  after  us,  who 
may  have  little  or  no  access  to  the  facts  connected  with  the  early  history  of 
this  place,  which  are  familiar  to  us  by  tradition,  a  written  history  must  be  of 
increasing  value.  With  a  view  of  rescuing  from  oblivion  many  events  con- 
nected with  the  early  settlement  of  this  town,  and  to  hand  them  down  for  the 
information  and  amusement  of  those  who  may  come  after  us,  as  well  as  to 
revive  in  the  memory  of  many  now  living,  the  things  of  former  years,  I  have, 
by  conversation  with  the  few  surviving  fathers  of  the  town,  and  by  a  dilligent 
examination  of  its  ancient  and  modem  records,  drawn  out  the  following 
imperfect  sketch  of  the  principal  events  in  its  history. 

[275] 


276 

BOVXDARUES. 

That  portion  of  territory  within  the  County  of  Franklin  now  called  Ash- 
field  was  originally  intended  to  embrace  a  tract  of  land  six  miles  square;  but, 
from  some  unknown  cause,  its  present  boundaries  do  not  lie  in  this  exact  form. 
The  town,  if  reduced  to  regular  dimensions,  would  form  a  square  whose  sides 
would  extend  six  miles  and  one-fifth,  inclosing  an  area  of  24,601  ^  acres. 

SOn^CLIMATE— DISEASES-POPULATION. 

The  surface  of  this  town  is  broken  into  hills  and  valleys  and  contains  but 
a  comparatively  small  portion  of  arable  land.  Indian  corn  succeeds  well,  but 
English  grain  is  of  secondary  quality  compared  with  that  raised  on  the  lighter 
soils  of  Connecticut  river.  Wheat  is  seldom  sown.  Grazing  may  be  said  to 
be  a  principal  object  with  the  farming  interest.  Large  dairies  are  kept  here, 
and  many  tons  of  the  finest  wool  are  yearly  furnished  for  the  manufactories. 
The  highest  mountain  in  the  town  is  that  situated  west  of  the  pond  Its 
hight  is  estimated  at  about  800  feet.*  There  are  no  very  considerable  streams 
running  through  the  town,  inviting  the  manufacturing  capitalist.  The  prin- 
cipal streams,  however,  furnish  water  power  for  all  domestic  purposes.  Water 
from  the  springs  and  wells  is  generally  of  ready  access  and  of  the  purest  qual- 
ity. The  winters  are  long  and  severe.  The  snow  generally  falls  about  fhe 
first  of  December  and  continues  until  the  first  of  April.  During  February 
and  March  the  ways  are  frequently  blocked  and  passing  difficult.  The 
climate,  though  severe  in  winter,  is  nevertheless  healthy.  The  prevailing 
disease  with  the  middle-aged,  upon  these  mountains,  may  be  said  to  be  con- 
sumption. This  may  be  owing  in  part,  perhaps,  to  the  severe  and  variable 
winters.  From  the  year  1819  to  1831,  twelve  years,  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  persons  died  in  this  town  over  12  years  of  age.  Of  these,  nine  died  by 
casualties,  or,  as  is  commonly  said,  by  accident;  twenty-one  of  old  age,  and 
ten  by  diseases  unknown  to  the  writer;  leaving  one  hundred  and  twenty -thiee 
persons  over  12  years  of  age  who  have  died  in  consequence  of  some  definable 
disease.  Of  these  123  persons,  fifty -four — nearly  one-half — died  with  the  con- 
sumption. Dysentery  has  frequently  prevailed  among  children  during  the 
months  of  August  and  September.  In  1825  twenty-one  under  five  years  died 
in  this  town,  most  of  whom  were  carried  off"  by  the  above  complaint.  During 
1829  and  1830  the  scarlet  fever  or  canker  rash  prevailed  very  extensively,  and 
in  several  instances  proved  mortal  to  children . 

The  average  number  of  deaths  during  the  fourteen  years  of  the  writer's 
connection  with  this  people  was  a  fraction  over  twenty-two  a  year,  which 
would  be  one  from  every  twenty-five  of  its  inhabitants.  The  highest  number 
of  deaths  in  any  one  year  during  this  period  was  thirty  seven;  the  lowest 
number,  thirteen. 

The  population  of  Ashfield  in  1820  was  1,748;  in  1830  it  was  1,732.  The 
town  contains  four  houses  for  religious  worship,  one  academy,  thirteen  school- 


*  Peter's  Mountain,  named  from  a  colored  man  who  lived  there  in  early  limes.  About 
1885  Hon.  James  Bussell  Lowell,  late  U.  S.  Minister  to  England,  purchased  a  site  for  a  sum- 
mer residence  on  (he  east  side  of  this  mountain.  Soon  after,  his  wife  died,  and  Mr.  Lowell 
removed  to  England,  and,  it  is  said,  has  decided  not  to  build  thereon.  It  is  a  very  sightly 
place,  and  trom  its  top,  on  a  clear  day,  points  In  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Connecticut  and 
New  York  are  visible. 


277 

houses,  two  hundred  and  fifty  dwelling-houseB,  three  taverns,  five  stores,  two 
gristmills,  nine  sawmills,  three  clothier  shops  and  three  carding  machines.  It 
also  has  two  machines  for  turning  hroom  handles,  five  blacksmith  shops  and 
two  tanneries. 

FIRST  SETTLEMENT. 

The  original  name  of  this  place  was  Huntstown;  a  name  given  to  it  in 
honor  of  Capt.  Ephraim  Hunt,  of  Weymouth.  In  the  year  1690  this  gentle- 
man was  sent  out,  by  order  of  Government,  as  commander  of  a  company  of 
men  selected  from  Weymouth  and  vicinity,  in  an  expedition  against  the  Can- 
adas,  in  a  contest  between  the  English  and  French,  commonly  called  King 
Wilham's  war.  This  war  commenced  in  the  year  1690  and  terminated  in  1697. 
It  was  attended  with  many  disastrous  consequences  to  the  American  Colonies. 
An  infuriated  horde  of  savage  warriors  were  let  loose  upon  our  scattered  and 
defenceless  population.  The  company  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Hunt 
composed  a  part  of  an  expedition  fitted  out  by  the  united  colonies  of  New 
York,  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  for  the  reduction  of  Montreal  and  Que- 
bec, then  in  the  hands  of  the  French.  A  combination  of  unfortunate  circum- 
stances, however,  defeated  the  design,  and  the  expedition,  after  encountering 
numerous  hardships  and  disasters,  returned  without  accomplishing  their 
object.  The  success  of  the  expedition  had  been  so  confidently  antici- 
pated  that  no  express  provision  had  been  made  for  the  payment  of  the 
troops.  Massachusetts,  in  the  low  state  of  her  finances,  issued  bills  of 
credit  as  a  substitute  for  money;  and  in  the  year  1736,  after  a  delay  of  more 
than  forty-six  years,  redeemed  those  bills;  at  least,  so  far  as  the  aforesaid  com- 
pany was  concerned,  by  granting  them,  their  heirs  or  legal  representatives,  a 
tract  of  land  within  the  limits  of  this  town.  In  the  conditions  of  the  grant 
express  provision  was  made  for  the  early  settlement  of  the  town,  the  erection 
of  a  meeting-house,  the  settlement  of  a  learned  and  orthodox  minister,  and  the 
cause  of  common  schools.  By  a  Committee  of  (ieneral  Court  sixty-three  lots, 
called  Rights,  containing  from  fifty  to  sixty -three  acres  each,  according  to  the 
quality  of  the  land,  were  set  off  and  numbered,  to  be  disposed  of  as  follows: 
One  right  to  be  given  to  the  first  settled  minister,  one  right  for  the  use  of  the 
ministry,  and  one  right  for  the  use  of  common  schools.  The  remaining  sixty 
rights  were  to  be  divided  by  lot  among  the  officers  and  privates  of  the  afore- 
said company,  their  heirs  or  legal  representatives.  The  grantees — or  Proprie- 
tors, as  they  were  henceforth  called — held  their  first  meeting  at  Weymouth, 
where  most  of  them  resided,  March  13,  1738,  and  on  the  24th  of  July,  1739, 
they  met  again  it  the  same  place  and  drew  lots  for  their  respective  rights,  set 
oflF  for  them  by  government  in  this  town. 

The  early  settlement  of  the  town  being  a  desirable  object  with  the  pro- 
prietors, inasmuch  as  it  would  tend  to  enhance  the  value  of  the  property  they 
now  owned  in  it,  they  passed  a  resolve.  May  28,  1741,  that  a  bounty  of  £5 
should  be  paid  to  each  of  the  first  ten  of  their  number  who  should  take  actual 
possession  of  their  respective  rights,  build  a  house  and  bring  under  cultivation 
six  acres  of  land  individually.  How  many  of  those  men  who  endured  the  toils 
and  privations  of  the  Canada  expedition  lived  to  receive  their  bounty  of  land, 
does  not  appear;  but  the  lapse  of  forty-six  years  from  the  expiration  of  that 
expedition,  very  probably  had  carried  the  greater  part  of  them  to  that  "  bourn 


278 

from  whence  no  traveler  returns,"  and  their  heirs  alone  remained  to  realize 
the  tardy  remuneration  which  should  have  long  before  fallen  to  those  who  had 
sustained  the  burden  and  heat  of  that  perilous  day.  Nor  does  it  appear  from 
the  records  that  any  of  the  original  proprietors  ever  settled  upon  their  lands 
in  person.  Their  rights  were  sold  to  others  of  a  more  adventurous  spirit,  from 
time  to  time,  as  they  had  opportunity.  In  the  meantime  taxes  began  to  accu- 
mulate upon  them,  and  many  of, them  were  parted  with  for  a  little  more  than 
was  sufficient  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  collector. 

The  precise  year  when  a  permanent  settlement  was  made  in  this  town  I 
have  not  been  able  to  ascertain.*  Soon  after  the  lots  were  drawn,  in  1739, 
it  doubtless  became  the  temporary  abode  of  emigrants,  as  they  came  out  from 
time  to  time  to  pioneer  the  wilderness  From  the  best  information  I  have 
been  able  to  obtain,  I  have  been  led  to  fix  the  first  permanent  settlement  of  this 
town  about  the  year  1745.  t  The  first  family  that  pitched  their  tent  upon 
these  hills  as  permanent  residents  was  that  of  Mr.  Richard  Ellis,  a  native  of 
Dublin,  in  Ireland.  Respecting  the  immigration  of  this  gentleman  from  that 
distant  land  to  America,  tradition  has  handed  down  in  the  family  the  follow- 
ing account,  which,  if  true,  is  only  in  accordance  with  many  of  the  like  kind — 
the  result  of  the  cupidity  and  knavery  of  unprincipled  shipma&ters.  The  story 
is  this:  Mr.  Ellis  was  the  only  son  of  a  widow.  A  wealthy  planter  living  in 
Virginia,  a  native  of  Ireland,  having  no  children,  made  application  to  his 
friend  in  Dublin  to  send  him  out  some  youth  of  promise,  to  be  adopted  inta 
his  family  and  brought  up  under  his  care  and  patronage.  Young  Ellis  was 
selected  and  sent  out  for  this  purpose.  On  his  embarkation  his  passage  was 
paid  and  an  agreement  made  with  the  captain  of  the  ship  to  land  him  safely 
on  the  coast  of  Virginia.  Faithless  to  his  trust,  he  brought  the  youth  ta 
Boston  and  there  sold  him  for  his  passage  money.  After  serving  the  time 
thus  unjustly  extorted  from  him  he  removed  from  Boston,  and  at  length  set- 
tled in  Easton,  where  he  was  married.  From  Easton  he  came  to  this  town. 
The  first  tree  was  felled  by  his  hands,  on  White  Brook,  a  small  stream  running 
a  little  to  the  west  of  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  Phineas  Flower.  He  built  for  his 
family  the  first  habitation  in  the  northeastern  section  of  the  town — a  log  cabin, 
partly  under  ground,  in  the  side  of  the  hill,  about  fifty  rods  to  the  east  of 
Mr.  John  Belding's,  near  the  ancient  burying  yard,  and  where  the  new  road 
runs.  The  next  immigrant  to  this  lonely  wilderness  was  Mr.  Thomas  Phil- 
lips, with  his  family,  from  Easton,  whose  sister  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Ellis. 
Mr.  Phillips  built  for  himself  a  log  house  about  one-half  of  a  mile  to  the  north 
of  the  dwelling  of  his  only  fellow-townsman,  Mr.  Ellis.  Soon  a  third  family 
was  added — that  of  Mr.  Chileab  Smith,  from  that  part  of  Hadley  now  called 
South  Hadley.  Mr.  Smith  settled  on  the  spot  which  the  house  of  his  son, 
Chileab  Smith,  now  occupies.  Mr.  Smith,  the  present  occupant,  now  in  his 
92d  year, 4:  was  about  8  years  old  when  his  father  removed  to  this  town.  To 
the  retentive  memory  and  free  communication  of  this  venerable  father  and 
pillar  in  the  town  I  am  indebted  for  many  of  the  facts  here  recorded. 

•  A  corn  mill  waa  built  in  tbe  year  1748.    It  is  believed  tbat  a  permanent  s«ttl«ment 
wa«  made  in  1741. 

t  PreachiDg  waa  bad  bere  aa  early  as  1742.    eee  Proprietora'  Recorda,  pp.  51, 54  and  65. 
X  He  died  In  the  year  1843,  aged  100  years  and  8  months.— H.  8.  R. 


279 

Among  the  earliest  accesaions  to  the  settlement  as  it  now  consisted,  of 
three  families,  was  Dea.  Ebenezer  Belding,  from  Hatfield,  and  Samuel  fielding;, 
from  Deerfield,  with  their  families.  Other  settlers  came  in  from  time  to  time, 
from  different  quarters.  A  number  of  families  joined  them  from  the  southern 
part  of  Connecticut,  so  that  by  the  year  1754  they  numbered  from  ten  to 
fifteen  families  and  nearly  one  hundred  souls. 

TRIA.I.S  OF  THE  SETTXERS-SETTXEMENT  ABANDONED. 

This  little  colony  of  immigrants,  thus  removed  from  their  friends  and  from 
civilized  society,  in  the  midst  of  a  mountainous  wilderness,  with  scarcely  any 
means  of  intercourse  with  those  they  had  left  behind,  were  permitted,  under 
the  watchful  hand  of  Providence,  to  pursue  their  labors  with  comfortable  suc- 
cess, subjected,  of  course,  to  a  thousand  self-denials  incident  to  the  pioneers 
of  the  forest,  of  which  we,  in  these  days  of  pampered  indulgence,  can  form  no 
adequate  conception.  For  a  number  of  years  they  had  no  other  means  of 
grinding  their  com  than  by  a  mill  turned  by  a  horse.  They  had  also  to  con- 
tend with  bad  roads,  with  rapid  streams  without  the  convenience  of  bridges, 
and  with  deep  snows  in  the  winter  without  the  means  of  maintaining  a  beaten 
path.  But  all  these  inconveniences  could  be  endured  so  long  as  they  were 
secure  from  the  attacks  of  the  merciless  savages,  that  still  prowled  around  the 
infant  settlements  of  our  country,  seeking  whom  they  might  devour.  Such 
security  and  quietness,  however,  they  w*e  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy.  The 
year  1754  was  memorable  for  the  breaking  out  of  fresh  hostilities  between  the 
French  and  the.  finglish.  This  war  let  loose  again  the  Indians  upon  the  de- 
fenceless frontier  settlements  of  our  colonies.  During  the  month  of  June  of  this 
year  a  party  of  men  at  work  near  Rice's  fort,  in  the  upper  part  of  Charlemont, 
was  attacked  by  a  body  of  Indians,  and  two  of  their  number  were  killed  and 
two  taken  prisoners.  The  tidings  of  this  Indian  massacre  spread  abroad  and 
quickly  reached  the  settlement  in  Huntstown  and  occasioned  great  alarm. 
Being  few  in  number,  and  with  small  means  of  defense,  they  had  no  other 
alternative  than  to  fly  back  to  the  older  settlements,  or  to  expose  their  wives 
and  children  to  the  tomahawk  and  scalping -knife  of  the  savage  foe.  After  a 
hasty  deliberation  the  former  course  was  resolved  on.  Accordingly,  on  the 
same  afternoon  in  which  they  received  the  tidings  from  Charlemont,  they 
abandoned  their  houses,  improvements,  stores,  &c.,  except  such  as  could  be 
transported  on  horseback,  and  set  off,  one  and  all,  for  the  older  settlements 
on  Connecticut  River.  A  middle-aged  woman,  the  mother  of  the  present 
Chileab  Smith,  traveled  ten  miles  on  foot  before  they  encamped  for  the  night. 
What  is  now  Conway  was  then  a  part  of  Deerfield  and  a  howling  wilderness, 
without  an  inhabitant  or  a  shelter  to  protect  the  refugees.  Their  first  halt 
was  at  Bloody  Brook,  where  they  spent  the  night.  Early  the  next  morning 
the  few  inhabitants  of  the  latter  place  abandoned  their  dwellings  and  joined 
them  in  their  various  dispersions  to  places  of  greater  security.  This  sudden 
abandonment  of  their  possessions,  after  having  just  gotten  into  a  condition  of 
comfortable  living,  could  not  have  been  otherwise  than  a  sore  trial  to  the  tirst 
settlers  of  this  town.  It  must  have  involved  them  in  very  considerable  loss 
of  property,  besides  being  a  very  serious  disappointment  to  their  plana  and 
prospects.      But  it  appears  to  have  been  submitted  to  by  them  with   that 


28o 

patient  endurance  and  undaunted  fortitude  for  which  the  men  of  that  perilous 
period  were  so  eminently  distinguished. 

RETURN  OF  THE  SETTLERS— MEANS   OF   PROTECTION. 

According  to  the  best  information  within  my  reach,  the  time  during  which 
the  settlers  were  absent  from  their  possessions  was  between  two  and  three 
years.  It  is  not  unlikely,  however,  that  during  this  period  individuals  might 
have  visited  this  place;  but  they  did  not  presume  to  return  with  their  families 
until  the  time  specified.  After  the  'return  of  the  refugees  to  their  possessions 
in  Huntstown,  the  war  still  continuing,  their  first  object  was  to  erect  a  fort 
for  their  common  defense.  This  was  accomplished  on  the  ground  occupied  by 
Mr.  Smith,  and  principally  at  his  own  expense.  The  area  inclosed  by  the  fort 
was  a  square  piece  of  ground  containing  81  square  rods.  It  was  constructed 
of  upright  logs  of  sufficient  thickness  to  be  bullet  proof,  set  three  feet  into 
the  earth  and  rising  twelve  feet  above.  The  inclosure  had  but  one  gate,  open- 
ing to  the  south,  which  was  always  shut  and  strongly  barred  during  the  night. 
Within  the  fort  stood  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  Smith,  which  served  as  a  garrison 
within  which  the  settlers  felt  secure  from  attack  during  the  night.  On  its 
roof  was  constructed,  of  logs,  a  tower  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  contain  six 
men  with  their  arms.  Port-holes  were  so  arranged  in  its  sides  as  to  afford  its 
inmates  a  fair  aim  at  their  assailants  without,  while  secure  from  their  balls 
within.  This  house  stood  in  the  center  of  the  fort,  and  on  the  same  ground 
now  occupied  by  the  dwelling  of  Chileab  Smith. 

After  remaining  in  this  state  for  about  one  year,  standing  on  their  own 
defense — keeping  watch  by  night,  and  laboring  by  day  with  their  arms  by  their 
aide — they  solicited  and  obtained  from  the  authorities  of  the  colony  a  company 
of  nine  soldiers,  under  the  command  of  a  sergeant  by  the  name  of  Allen,  for 
their  greater  security.  This  guard  arrived,  under  the  general  order  of  Col. 
Israel  Williams,  June,  1757.  This  company  continued  in  the  settlement  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  which  was  about  two  years  from  the  time  of  their  arrival. 
Their  duty  was  to  go,  under  arms,  with  the  people,  to  protect  them  in  their 
labors  during  the  day,  and  to  return  with  them  into  the  fort  and,  in  their 
turn,  stand  sentinel  during  the  night.  In  the  process  of  time,  and  before  the 
close  of  the  war,  another  fort,  six  rods  square,  was  built  by  the  settlers,  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  first,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  it,  near  the 
house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Sears.  This  fort  was  used  for  the  same  purposes 
as  the  other. 

In  the  good  providence  of  God  the  settlement  was  preserved  safe  from  the 
attack  of  the  enemy.  Nor  were  any  Indians  discovered  near  it  except  in  one 
instance.  As  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Smith  was  walking  out  one  evening,  just  as 
the  sun  was  setting,  she  discovered  an  Indian  within  about  twenty  rods  of  the 
fort,  surveying  it  very  attentively.  With  great  haste  and  terror  she  flew 
back  to  the  gate  and  gave  the  alarm:  "The  Indians  are  upon  us  !  "  The  sol- 
diers immediately  rallied  and  commenced  pursuit;  but  darkness  soon  coming 
on,  they  returned  without  discovering  the  enemy.  During  the  night  they 
slept  upon  their  arms  and  early  next  morning  renewed  their  search  through 
the  woods,  but  saw  nothing  save  the  evident  trail  of  a  small  hunting  party, 
probably  sent  out  to  reconnoiter  the  settlement;  but,  finding  it  well  garrisoned, 
they  presumed  not  to  molest  them  afterward.     For  about  two  years  the  first 


28l 

settlers  of  this  town  were  destined  to  live  in  this  state  of  constant  agitation 
and  alarm.  Often  were  their  sympathies  deeply  excited  by  the  narration  of 
savage  barbarities  committed  upon  their  more  unfortunate  fellow-citizens  in 
other  places.  They  felt  themselves  in  jeopardy  every  hour.  As  they  retired 
to  rest  each  night  they  knew  not  but  that  they  should  be  aroused  by  the  yell 
of  the  war  whoop,  to  behold  their  dwellings  in  flames,  and  their  wives  and 
little  ones  in  the  merciless  grasp  of  the  wild  men  of  the  woods.  The  taking 
of  Quebec  by  the  enterprise  and  daring  of  the  gallant  Gen.  Wolf,  in  1759, 
restored  peace  to  the  colonies.  The  soldiers  stationed  here  were  disbanded, 
and  the  settlers,  to  their  unspeakable  satisfaction,  were  again  permitted  to 
pursue  their  daily  avocations  without  fear  of  molestation.  * 

,  PROPRIETORS'  ACTS. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  held  in  Weymouth,  or  Braintree, 
as  the  town  was  originally  called,  March  13,  1738.  They  afterwards  met  at 
Hadley,  then  at  Hatfield,  and  finally,  in  1754,  in  Huntstown.  The  following 
(jentlemen,  in  the  order  in  which  their  names  are  here  recorded,  served  as  pro- 
prietors' clerks,  viz  :  William  Crane,  Richard  Faxon,  Israel  WUliams.  Esq., 
Ephraim  Marble,  Reuben  Belding,  Jacob  Sherwin,  Esq.,  Ephraim  Williams, 
Esq. 

The  proprietors  took  early  measures  to  supply  the  settlement  with  mills. 
They  built,  at  their  own  expense,  in  the  year  1743,  the  first  grist  mill  on  Pond 
Brook,  about  100  rods  northeasterly  from  the  Episcopal  Church,  where  the 
remains  of  a  similar  establishment  may  now  be  seen.  Subsequently,  in  the 
year  1753,  they  erected  a  saw  mill  on  Bear  River,  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the 
dwelling  of  Israel  Phillips. 

At  the  commencement  of  this  sketch  we  noticed  in  the  original  grant  ex- 
press provision  for  the  support  of  an  orthodox  ministry.  The  fathers  of  New 
England  were  the  descendents  of  the  Puritans.  Although  they  sought  no 
alliance  between  Church  and  State,  they  knew  full  well  that  no  government 
could  secure  the  morality  and  happiness  of  a  people  without  the  prevalence  of 
pure  and  undefiled  religion.  Actuated  by  the  same  spirit,  the  proprietors 
took  early  measures  to  secure  to  the  town  the  stated  ministration  of  the  Gos- 
pel. At  a  meeting  held  November,  1751,  a  sum  of  money  was  raised  to  supply 
the  settlement  with  preaching.  la  17*53  they  settled  a  Congregational  minis- 
ter, and  in  1767  they  erected  and  finished  a  convenient  house  for  public 
worship.  But  more  concerning  these  things  will  be  related  in  its  more  appro- 
priate place. 

DOINGS  OF  THE  TOWN— ACT  OF  INCORPORATION. 

The  records  of  the  town  previous  to  1776  are  very  imperfectly  preserved. 
There  are  remaining  in  the  town  clerk's  ofiBce  only  a  few  separate  scraps  of 
paper  bearing  date  prior  to  the  aforesaid  year.  Of  this  early  period  I  have 
been  able  to  glean  only  the  following  items  : 

The  first  town  meeting  of  which  any  record  remains  was  held  March  8, 
1762,  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Jonathan  Sprague.     Ebenezer  Belding  was 

♦In  1761  there  were  19  families  residing  here. 


282 

chosen  Moderator,  and  Samuel  Belding  town  clerk.  The  business  was  not  of 
sufficient  importance  to  be  noticed  here. 

In  June,  1765,  by  act  of  General  Court,  the  town  was  incorporated  by  the 
name  of  Ashjield.  The  warrant  to  call  the  first  meeting  under  the  act  of  in- 
corporation  was  issued  by  Thomas  Williams,  Esq.,  of  Deerfield,  and  directed 
to  Samuel  Belding,  clerk  of  this  town.  The  first  town  officers  under  the 
incorporation  were:  Benjamin  Phillips,  Town  Clerk;  David  Alden,  Treasurer^ 
Chileab  Smith,  Moses  Fuller,  Thomas  Phillips,  Selectmen.* 

The  subject  of  common  schools  began  early  to  engage  the  attention  of  the 
fathers  of  this  town.  They  seemed  fully  to  understand  the  orthodox  doctrine — 
that  a  free  government  can  only  be  sustained  by  an  intelligent  population. 
Accordingly,  they  voted,  in  1772,  to  divide  the  town  into  three  school  districts 
and  to  build  a  school  house,  f 

According  to  the  records,  the  first  representative  chosen  for  the  purpose 
of  acting  in  the  affairs  of  the  State  was  Capt.  Elisha  Cranston.  In  1775  this 
gentleman  was  chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  the  congress  to  be  convened  at 
Watertown,  Boston  then  being  in  the  possession  of  the  British  troops. 

1¥AR   OF  THE  REVOLUTION. 

A  period  now  approached  fraught  with  the  most  trying  scenes  ever  expe- 
rienced by  the  citizens  of  these  United  States.  It  was  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution. In  the  events  which  preceded  and  attended  that  trying  period,  the 
citizens  of  this  town,  although  removed  from  the  principal  scene  of  action, 
were  nevertheless  deeply  interested,  and  in  them  they  took  a  decided  part. 
As  early  as  September,  1774,  when  events  in  and  about  Boston  began  to  wear 
the  aspect  of  hostilities,  and  the  first  Continental  Congress  had  commenced 
its  session  in  Philadelphia,  the  following  covenant,  previously  drawn  up  by  a 
committee  chosen  for  the  purpose,  was  signed  by  Benjamin  Phillips  and  sixty - 
four  others,  citizens  of  this  town: 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Ashfield,  from  a  prin- 
ciple of  self-preservation,  the  dictate  of  natural  conscience,  and  a  sacred  regard 
to  the  constitution  and  laws  of  our  country,  which  were  instituted  for  the 
security  of  our  lives  and  property,  do  severally  and  mutually  covenant,  prom- 
ise and  engage,  with  each  other  and  all  of  us: 

"1.  That  we  profess  ourselves  subject  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King,  and 
hold  ourselves  in  duty  bound  to  yield  obedience  to  all  his  good  and  wholesome 
laws. 

' '  2.  That  we  bear  testimony  against  all  the  oppressive  and  unconstitutional 
laws  of  the  British  Parliament,  whereby  the  chartered  privileges  of  this  prov- 
ince are  struck  at  and  cashiered. 

"  3.  That  we  will  not  be  aiding,  nor  in  any  way  assisting,  in  any  trade 
with  the  Island  of  Great  Britain,  until  she  withdraws  her  oppressive  hand,  or 
until  a  trade  is  come  into  by  the  sever{il  colonies. 

"  4.  That  we  will  join  with  our  neighboring  towns  in  this  province,  and 
sister  colonies  in  America,  in  contending  for  and  defending  our  rights  and 

*8ee  the  Town  Book  of  Records— copied  in  1857— page  6.— H.  S.  R. 
tin  the  year  1766,  at  ihe  first  annual  meeting  subsequent  to  its  incorporation,  they 
▼oted  £4  for  the  school 


283 

privileges,  civil  and  religious,  which  we  have  a  just  right  to  do,  both  by 
nature  and  by  charter. 

"5.  That  we  will  make  preparation,  that  we  may  be  equipped  with  am- 
munition and  other  necessaries,  at  town  cost,  for  the  above  purposes. 

"6.  That  we  will  do  all  we  can  to  suppress  petty  mobs,  trifling  and 
causeless. " 

That  the  signing  of  these  articles  of  covenant  was  not  a  mere  matter  of 
unmeaning  form  appears  evident  from  the  fact  that  in  the  following  August 
the  town  voted  to  send  an  agent  to  Albany  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  guns 
and  ammunition,  at  the  expense  of  the  town.  At  length  affairs  at  headquar- 
ters came  to  a  crisis.  On  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  an  attack  was  made  by  a 
column  of  the  British  army,  under  the  command  of  Maj.  Pitcairn,  upon  our 
unoffending  yeomanry  at  Lexington;  and  thenceforth  commenced  that  une- 
qual conflict  which,  after  eight  years  of  toil,  privation  and  blood,  resulted,  in 
the  providence  of  God,  in  the  independence  of  these  United  States. 

Such  was  the  poverty  of  our  government,  and  such  their  inability  to  raise 
the  necessary  means  of  sustaining  an  army  sufficient  to  face  the  hosts  of 
Britain,  that  at  the  commencement  of  hostilities  it,  of  necessity,  devolved 
upon  the  patriotism  of  the  towns  from  which  the  soldiers  were  drafted,  to  fur- 
nish them  with  supplies  and,  in  many  instances,  to  become  responsible  for 
their  wages  during  service.  The  citizens  of  this  town,  as  their  records  fully 
evince,  did  not  remain  idle  spectators  of  this  contest.  They  fell  not  behind 
the  spirit  of  the  times  in  their  devotion  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  and  their 
willingness  to  sacrifice  almost  any  temporal  comfort  in  securing  it  to  themselves 
and  their  posterity. 

It  would  extend  altogether  beyond  the  limits  of  this  sketch  to  quote  at 
length  the  patriotic  doings  of  this  town  in  lending  their  aid  to  encourage  and 
carry  forward  the  War  of  the  E evolution.  A  few  facts  selected  from  their 
records  is  all  that  my  limits  will  permit  me  to  notice. 

In  fully  estimating  the  sacrifices  made  by  our  fathers  in  coming  forward 
with  their  voluntary  contributions  in  sustaining  the  War  of  the  Revolution, 
we  must  take  into  the  account  two  important  circumstances:  first,  the  fact  of 
their  having  just  begun  to  subdue  the  wilderness,  and  the  consequent  state  of 
dependence  in  which  mo3t  of  them  were  placed  m  regard  to  the  necessary 
means  of  subsistence;  and,  secondly,  the  uncertain  and  changeable  state  of 
their  monied  currency.  Notwithstanding  these  pressing  embarrassments,  we 
find  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  at  one  time  voting,  in  open  town  meeting,  to 
furnish  the  army  with  a  lot  of  coats.  At  another  time  we  find  them  offering  a 
bounty  to  such  as  might  enlist  from  among  them  to  serve  in  the  war;  and  at 
another,  voting  a  sum  of  money  to  purchase  provisions  to  be  sent  to  the  fam- 
ishing army.  In  1779  the  town  voted  to  pay  the  soldiers  enlisted  from  among 
them,  for  nine  months'  service,  forty  shillings  per  month  in  addition  to  the 
bounty  offered  by  General  Court — the  value  of  the  money  to  be  regulated  by  corn 
at  23.  6d.,  rye  at  Ss.  4d.,  and  wheat  at  4s.  6d.  per  bushel.  In  1780  the  town  voted 
to  give,  by  way  of  encouragement,  to  each  man  who  should  enlist  in  the  army 
for  three  years,  "  twenty  calves."  Said  calves  were  to  be  procured  in  the  fol- 
lowing May  and  kept  at  the  town's  cost  until  the  three  years  had  expired.  How 
many  of  these  men  returned  to  receive  their  bounty,  then  grown  to  be  oxen 
and  cows,  does  not  appeitr.     In  1781  the  town  voted  to  raise  "ninety  silver 


284 

-dollars  "  to  purchase  the  amount  of  beef  that  fell  to  their  share  for  the  army. 
The  same  year  eight  men  Mere  enlisted  from  this  town  for  three  months'  serv- 
ice who  were  to  receiTe  from  the  town  treasury  £4  per  month,  and  $10  each 
before  they  marched.  In  1777  Eev.  Nehemiah  Porter,  in  consequence  of  the 
enfeebled  state  of  his  people,  and  the  consequent  depreciation  of  his  support, 
joined  the  army  on  the  North  River  [Hudson]  in  the  capacity  of  Chaplain,  and 
continued  with  them  until  the  capture  of  Burgoyne. 

During  this  severe  and  protracted  controversy  with  the  mother  country 
the  people  of  this  town,  in  common  with  their  brethren  in  other  parts  of  the 
provinces,  suffered  great  embarrassments  in  consequence  of  the  fluctuating 
state  of  their  paper  currency.  The  enormous  depreciation  of  this  currency  in 
1780  may  be  learned  from  the  fact  that  during  that  year  the  town  raised  and 
expended  upon  the  highways  three  thousand  povnds!  It  was  the  custom  of 
the  town ,  at  their  annual  meeting  in  March,  to  choose  a  ' '  Committee  of  Safety, 
to  do  what  in  them  lay  to  regulate  the  price  of  provisions  and  to  ease  the  bur- 
<lens  of  the  people."  A  Committee  of  Correspondence  was  also  appointed 
annually,  to  confer  with  similar  committees  in  other  places,  in  relation  to  the 
trying  and  critical  state  of  public  affairs. 

One  item  of  record  in  these  troublous  times — "  times  which"  emphatically 
"  tried  men's  souls" — I  cannot  omit  to  notice,  although  it  is  somewhat  of  a  deli- 
cate nature  ;  but  inasmuch  as  it  evinces  that  ever  vigilant  and  stem  spirit 
which  characterized  the  patriot  of  that  generation,  I  shall  be  excused  by  omit* 
ting  names  in  the  narrative  :  At  a  legal  meeting  held  July  18th,  1777,  it  was 
voted  "  that  Aaron  Lyon  be  a  meet  person  to  procure  evidence  against  certain 
persons  who  are  thought  to  be  inimical  to  the  American  States."  At  a  subse- 
quent meeting,  in  August  following,  the  Selectmen  were  requested  to  bring  in 
a  list  of  persons  whom  they  viewed  to  be  of  the  above  description.  This 
report  containec^  the  names  of  nine  persons,  among  whom  were  some  of  the 
most  respectable  and  leading  men  in  the  town.  Whereupon  it  was  voted  that 
the  persons  thus  reported  "appear  so  unfriendly  to  the  American  States  that 
they  ought  to  be  brought  to  proper  trial."  It  was  also  voted  at  the  same 
meeting,  these  suspected  men  "be  committed  to  close  confinement  in  this 
town."  One  of  the  prisoners,  however,  in  consequence  of  the  sickness  of  his 
family,  was  exempted  from  confinement  on  condition  of  delivering  up  his  arms 
and  ammunition.  The  others  were  forthwith  dispatched  to  a  private  dwelling, 
under  a  strong  guard  selected  and  supported  by  the  town.  After  continuing 
thus  imprisoned  for  about  seven  days  and  nights  the  town  met  again  and  voted 
"  to  dismiss  the  guard  and  release  the  prisoners  from  close  confinement." 
This  transaction  is  but  a  faint  specimen  of  what  transpired  in  evtry  section  of 
the  country  between  the  resolute  and  the  timid,  the  friends  and  the  foes  of 
war.  Many  an  house  was  divided  against  itself;  friends,  neighbors,  brethren, 
took  different  sides  in  the  contest  and  were  fiercely  arrayed  against  each  other. 
Nor  can  it  be  a  matter  of  wonder  that  men  of  wisdom  and  foresight  should 
have  opposed  resistance  to  the  power  of  Britain;  so  unequal  was  the  contest 
and,  in  human  view,  so  very  improbable  the  attainment  of  any  permanent 
good  on  the  part  of  our  infant  colonies.  But  the  ways  of  Providence  are  not 
as  our  ways;  the  result  exceeded  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  the  friends 
of  the  revolution;  the  God  of  Heaven  went  forth  with  our  armies  and  the  vic- 
tory was  on  our  side.     Never  was  there  a  contest  bttwecn  nations  in  the 


285 

decision  and  determination  of  which  the  overruling  hand  of  God  was  more 
manifest;  and  the  patriots  of  that  day  were  led  to  feel  that  deliverance  from 
the  overwhelming  power  of  Britain  could  alone  proceed  from  the  Power  that 
ruleth  the  nations.  Hence  they  looked  to  Heaven,  and  fasted,  and  prayed 
for  help  from  above;  nor  did  they  pray  in  vain.  In  July,  1777,  in  legal  town 
meeting,  it  was  voted  that  "this  town  will  do  all  that  lies  in  their  power  to 
suppress  vice,  and  especially  that  they  will  use  their  endeavors  to  prevent 
profane  cursing  and  swearing,  that  the  name  of  God  be  not  blasphemed  among 
them." 

ADOPTION  OK  A  STATE  CONSTIFCTION. 

The  question  whether  this  Commonwealth  should  form  for  itself  a  consti- 
tution in  consonance  with  the  national  compact  already  signed  and  adopted, 
became  the  subject  of  general  discussion.  In  August,  1779,  Capt.  Benjamin 
Phillips  and  Capt.  Samuel  Bartlett  were  chosen  delegates  to  attend  a  conven- 
tion about  to  be  held  at  Cambridge  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  constitution 
for  the  Commonwealth.  These  gentlemen  were  instructed  by  the  town,  among 
other  things,  to  use  their  endeavors  that  an  article  be  inserted  in  said  consti- 
tution, "  that  each  Representative,  previous  to  his  belonging  to  General  Court, 
shall  be  solemnly  sworn  not  to  pass  any  acts  or  laws  where  his  constituents 
shall  be  in  any  sense,  name  or  nature,  oppressed  or  forced  in  matters  of 
religion."  On  this  subject  a  portion  of  the  people  of  this  town  felt  peculiarly 
sensitive,  for  reasons  which  will  hereafter  be  noticed. 

In  the  following  year  came  up  the  important  question  respecting  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution  prepared  by  the  aforesaid  convention  and  sent  out 
by  them  for  the  approval  of  the  people.  In  open  town  meeting  this  constitu- 
tion was  taken  up,  debated  and  acted  upon,  article  by  article.  The  result 
was,  that  while  many  of  its  provisions  were  approved  by  a  majority  of  the 
town,  others  were  rejected.  The  third  article  in  the  Bill  of  Rights,  which 
proposed  that  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  should  be  supported  by  taxation, 
was  rejected,  on  the  ground  that  it  was  "  unconstitutional  to  human  nature 
and  nothing  in  the  word  of  God  to  support  it."  The  article  specifying  the 
appointment  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  by  the  Executive  was 
rejected,  and  a  substitute  proposed,  viz  :  that  they  should  be  elected  annually 
by  the  Legislature.  The  article  constituting  the  Senate  an  essential  part 
of  the  Legislature  was  rejected,  on  the  ground  that  such  a  distinct  body  was 
unnecessary.  Those  articles  specifying  the  pecuniary  qualifications  of  the  dif- 
ferent officers  of  government,  and  of  voters  in  town  meeting,  were  rejected  by 
a  majority  of  the  votes  of  this  town.  An  amendment  was  proposed  that 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  instead  of  being  appointed  by  the  Governor,  should  be 
elected  by  ballot  annually,  in  legal  town  meeting,  and  commissioned  by  the 
Governor.  It  was  also  proposed  that  town  clerks  be  the  acknowledgers  and 
registers  of  deeds,  and  that  the  Probate  office  be  lodged  in  the  hands  of  the 
Selectmen,  and  the  Town  Clerk  be  ex  officio  Clerk  of  Probate. 

These  transactions  are  referred  to  for  the  purpose  of  exhibiting  the  views 
of  our  fathers  respecting  the  science  of  civil  government.  While  it  was  happy 
for  our  Commonwealth  that  most  of  the  alterations  here  proposed  did  not  pre- 
vail, it  is  worthy  of  notice  that  the  views  expressed  in  relation  to  the  Bill  of 
Rights  on  the  prevailing  views  of  the  Commonwealth  at  the  present  day,  and 


286     . 

after  the  lapse  of  half  a  century,  have  effected  an  essential  alteration  of  this 
article  in  the  constitution. 

In  the  order  of  chronology  it  may  be  proper  here  to  notice  an  incident 
which  occurred  here  in  1781.  During  this  year  the  north  part  of  this  town 
was  infested  with  a  company  of  vagrant  religious  fanatics  called  "  Tremblers." 
Such  extravagance  and  disorder  and  indecency  were  exhibited  by  them  in 
their  intercourse  with  the  inhabitants,  and  especially  in  the  acts  of  worship, 
that  the  people  living  in  the  vicinity  where  they  located  themselves  became 
very  seriously  annoyed  and  presented  them  to  the  authorities  of  the  town  as  a 
public  nuisance.  Whereupon  it  was  voted  in  legal  town  meeting  that  "the 
Selectmen  be  requested  to  warn  said  straggling  TremVjlers  now  in  town, 
and  those  that  shall  come  in  hereafter,  to  depart  in  twenty-four  hours  or 
expect  trouble." 


PECUNIARY  EMBARRASSMENT— SHAY'S  INSURRECTION. 

In  1782  the  pecuniary  pressure  became  very  severe  upon  the  inhabitants 
of  this  town  and  the  community  in  general.  The  enfeebled  and  partially 
organized  condition  of  the  General  Government  rendered  it  necessary  for  indi- 
vidual States  to  make  great  efforts  to  maintain  their  credit  and  meet  the 
demands  which  the  progress  of  the  war  was  constantly  bringing  upon  them. 
Massachusetts  felt  under  the  necessity  of  levying  a  heavy  tax  upon  the  people. 
The  result  was  murmurings  and  insubordination  from  every  quarter.  The 
people  of  this  town  voted  not  to  collect  the  portion  of  the  State  tax  assigned 
to  them,  and  to  recommend  to  their  militia  officers  to  resign  their  commissions. 
They  drew  up  and  signed  a  covenant  for  their  mutual  defense  and  sent  out  a 
committee  to  inform  the  neighboring  towns  of  their  doings.  Other  towns  were 
excited  to  similar  measures  of  resistance  from  similar  causes.  Taxes  were 
heavy  and  money  scarce;  county  conventions  began  to  be  held,  and  one  event 
after  another  transpired  until  Shay's  rebellion  broke  out,  in  1786.  Such  were 
the  embarrassments  of  the  times  that  the  people  not  only  resisted  the  taxes  of 
government,  but  the  demands  of  common  creditors.  The  regular  sittings  of 
the  courts  at  Northampton,  Worcester  and  Taunton  were  obstructed  by  the 
people  convening  in  tumultuous  assemblies.  Thousands  of  our  citizens  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  Commonwealth  were  arrayed  in  rebellion  against  a  govem- 
nieat  which  they  had  just  established  at  the  expense  of  great  toil  and  much 
blood.  A  majority  of  the  people  of  this  town  joined  in  the  common  panic 
and  took  aides  with  the  insurgents.  By  consent  of  a  majority  of  the  Selectmen 
the  magazine  of  the  town  was  given  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  and  a  militia 
oflBcer  and  a  company  of  soldiers  volunteered  their  services  and  marched  off  to 
their  assistance.  But  the  same  Almighty  Hand  that  sustained  our  country 
during  her  contest  with  the  hosts  of  England,  carried  her  safely  through  these 
scenes  of  civil  commotion,  and  caused  them  all  to  work  together  for  good,  to 
her  future  peace  and  permanency.  With  a  few  conflicts,  and  the  loss  of  a  few 
lives,  the  insurrection  was  quelled;  the  people,  after  further  reflection,  became 
satisfied  that  their  embarrassments  were  occasioned  rather  by  the  necessary 
expenditures  of  the  Revolution  than  by  any  defect  in  the  government  itself  or 
the  manner  of  its  administration. 


287 

ADOPTION  OF  THE  F£DERAIi  CONSTITUTION. 

The  commotions  narrated  above  convinced  the  people  of  NevF  England 
that  some  stronger  bond  of  union  between  the  States,  for  their  mutual  protec- 
tion, was  necessary.  Accordingly,  a  convention  was  called  at  Boston  in  1787 
for  the  purpose  of  consulting  upon  the  adoption  of  the  confederated  constitu- 
tion proposed  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  Accordingly,  Ephraim 
Williams,  Esq.,  was  chosen  to  represent  this  town  in  said  convention,  and 
instructed  "to  use  his  influence  that  said  constitution  doth  not  take  place." 
But,  notwithstanding  the  views  of  the  good  people  of  this  town,  said  constitu- 
tion did  take  place,  and  for  nearly  fifty  years  the  people  of  this  town,  in 
common  with  their  fellow-citizens  throughout  the  Union,  have  rejoiced  in  the 
many  blessings  which  it  has  imparted. 

ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY. 

It  has  been  remarked  that  the  original  proprietors  of  this  town  took  early 
measures  to  supply  the  tirst  settlers  with  Gospel  ordinances.  In  the  original 
grant  of  the  Soldiers'  Rights  two  of  them  were  reserved  for  the  support  of  a 
learned  and  orthodox  ministry;  and  in  1751  a  sum  of  money  was  raised  by  the 
proprietors  to  supply  the  settlement  with  preaching.  Rev.  Mr.  Dickinson,  a 
Congregational  minister  from  Hadley,  was  the  first  employed  to  preach  in  the 
settlement.  Afterward  they  were  favored  with  the  labors  of  Rev.  Mr.  Streeter. 
Their  meetings  were  held  in  the  dwelling  of  Deacon  Ebenezer  Belding,  which 
stood  on  the  same  ground  now  occupied  by  an  house  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  way  from  Dimick  Ellis,  Esq.  [Now  (1864)  Mr.  Bardwell's.  — H .  S.  R.] 
Mr.  Joshua  Hall  now  (1887)  owns  and  lives  on  this  farm. 

The  first  regular  church  formed  in  the  town  was  of  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion. It  was  constituted  July,  1761,  consisting  of  nine  members.  In  the  ,  ^ 
following  August  Rev.  Ebenezer  Smith,  the  eldest  son  of  Chileab  Smith,  was  /  ^X^ 
ordained  its  pastor.  In  May,  1768,  Nathan  Chapin  and  seventeen  others  sent  ^  ' 
in  a  petition  to  General  Court  setting  forth  that  they  belonged  to  the  persua- 
sion called  Anabaptists,  and  praying  to  be  exempted  from  the  taxation  for  the 
support  of  the  Congregational  ministry.  This  petition,  after  repeated  and 
persevering  eflforts,  during  which  the  petitioners  were  subjected  to  many  trying 
scenes,  was  at  last  granted.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  there  should  ever  have 
been  occasion,  in  this  land  of  enlightened  liberty,  for  such  a  petition  as  this. 
Nothing  would  seem  to  be  more  reasonable  than  that  any  religious  denomination 
demeaning  themselves  as  peaceable  members  of  society,  should  enjoy  free  tol- 
eration in  the  exclusive  maintenance  of  their  own  order.  Our  fathers  fled 
hither  that  they  might  enjoy  liberty  of  conscience  in  matters  of  religion.  But 
it  must  be  remembered,  by  way  of  apology  for  any  seeming  inconsistency  in 
their  legislative  acts,  that  for  a  long  while  after  the  settlement  of  Plymouth 
the  people  of  this  land  were  very  generally  of  one  and  the  same  denomination; 
hence  their  laws  had  respect  to  this  particular  denomination  alone;  and  when 
in  the  process  of  events  other  sects  sprang  up,  they  were  not  so  careful,  per- 
haps, as  enlightened  Christian  charity  would  have  dictated,  in  so  modifying 
their  statutes  as  to  give  equal  toleration  to  all  who  might  conscientiously  differ 
from  them.  Hence,  in  the  tardy  revision  of  the  laws  to  meet  the  exigencies 
of  the  times,  there  were,  without  doubt,  insulated  cases  of  what  would  now 


t 


288 

be  universally  pronounced  religious  intolerance  and  oppression.  But  those 
were  days  when  free  toleration  in  the  things  of  religion  were  but  imperfectly 
understood.  The  progress  of  nearly  a  century  has  thrown  much  light  on  this 
subject;  we  have  occasion  to  thank  God  that  we  have  fallen  on  better  times. 
Let  not  the  errors  of  those  years  of  comparative  darkness,  long  since  gone  by, 
be  revived  and  banded  down  as  a  matter  of  reproach  or  recrimination  between 
Christian  brethren  differing  only  in  modes,  and  all  enjoying,  to  their  full 
satisfaction,  liberty  of  conscience  and  equal  toleration.  For  a  long  number  of 
years  the  kindest  feelings  have  been  entertained  between  the  Baptist  and 
Congregational  churches  in  this  town. 

In  1798,  after  a  ministry  of  thirty-seven  years  in  this  town,  Elder  Smith 
was  dismissed  from  his  pastoral  charge  in  good  standing.  He  soon  after 
removed  to  the  western  part  of  New  York,  where  he  continued  to  labor  in 
different  places  until  he  reached  the  age  of  89.  He  died  at  Stockton,  in  the 
County  of  Chautauqua,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Smith,  though  not  favored  with  early 
opportunities  cor  a  systematic  education,  is  represented  to  have  been  a  man  of 
strong  native  powers  of  mind,  thoroughly  orthodox  in  sentiment,  and  an 
acceptable  preacher.     [See  (10)  page  71.] 

January  14th,  1798,  Elder  Enos  Smith,  the  youngest  son  of  Chileab  Smith, 
and  brother  of  the  former  minister,  was  ordained  pastor  of  this  church,  and 
still  continues  in  this  relation,  having  now  reached  the  85th  year  of  his  age  and 
36th  of  his  ministry. 

In  1800  this  society,  embracing  a  portion  of  the  southeastern  section  of 
Buckland,  obtained  an  act  of  incorporation.  This  church  has,  at  different 
periods,  experienced  seasons  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  This 
was  particularly  the  fact  during  the  winter  of  183),  when  considerable  addi- 
tions were  made  to  their  communion.  The  exact  number  of  communicants 
now  belonging  to  this  church  I  am  not  able  to  state.  In  the  spring  of  1831  it 
was  one  hundred  and  six.  Their  Krst  house  of  worship  stood  about  fifty  rods 
north  of  Mr.  Chileab  Smith's.  About  two  years  since  the  society  erected  a 
new  and  convenient  meeting-house,  about  one-half  of  a  mile  to  the  east  of  this 
spot. 

This  society,  if  not  the  oldest,  is  certainly  among  the  oldest,  of  the  Baptist 
denominations  in  the  western  section  of  Massachusetts.  It  has  always  occu- 
pied ground  peculiarly  its  own,  having  never  interfered  with,  that  preoccupied 
by  others.  Its  church  is  venerable  for  its  age;  many  in  it  have  been  raised 
up  for  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  It  is  entitled  to  and,  I  doubt  not,  it  receives, 
the  prayers  of  the  people  of  God  of  every  name  around  it,  for  its  peace  and 
prosperity. 

December  22d,  1762,  the  Proprietors  gave  a  call  to  Mr.  Jacob  Sherwin  to 
settle  with  them  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry.  February  22d,  1763,  a 
Congregational  church  consisting  of  fifteen  members  was  formed  by  an  ecclesi- 
astical council  convened  for  the  purpose,  and  on  the  following  day  Mr.  Sherwin 
was,  by  the  same  council,  ordained  its  pastor.  The  Articles  of  Faith  and 
Covenant  prepared  by  this  council  were  consented  to  and  signed  by  the  fol- 
lowing persons:  Jacob  Sherwin,-  Thomas  Phillips,  Nathan  Waite,  Ebenezer 
Belding,  Timothy  Lewis  and  Joseph  Mitchell. 

Mr.  Sherwin's  ministry  in  this  place  continued  a  little  more  than  eleven 
years  and  two  months.     Difficulties  arising  between  him  and  his  people,  he 


289 

was  finally  dismissed  by  an  ecclesiastical  coiincil  and  recommended  to  the 
confidence  of  the  churches.  During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  S.  eighty  persons 
were  added  to  this  church,  including  those  who  became  members  at  the  time 
of  its  constitution.  Forty-nine  of  these  were  admitted  by  profession  and 
thirty-one,  by  letters  of  recommendation  from  sister  churches.  The  ordinance 
of  baptism  was  administered  to  one  hundred  and  nineteen  persons. 

Mr.  Sherwin  was  bom  in  Hebron,  Conn.,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1759.  After  his  dismission  from  his  pastoral  charge  he  continued  to 
reside  in  the  town,  became  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  the  first  that  was  honored 
with  this  commission  in  the  place,  was  elected  clerk  of  the  town  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  also  clerk  of  the  proprietors,  and  occasionally  officiated  as  one  of 
the  Selectmen.  Afterward  he  resumed  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry, 
removed  to  Shaftesbury,  Vt.,  where  he  was  installed  and,  as  far  as  it  appears, 
continued  his  labors  until  his  decease. 

December  22d,  177-4,  Rev.  Nehemiah  Porter  was  installed  pastor  of  this 
church  and  continued  in  this  relation  until  his  decease,  February  29th,  1820, 
aged  99  years  and  1 1  months.  During  Mr.  Porter's  active  labors,  until  the; 
settlement  of  his  first  colleague,  it  being  about  thirty-five  years  and  a  half,. 
334  persons  were  admitted  to  the  church — 240  by  profession  and  94  by  letter. 
Eight  hundred  and  fifty  received  the  ordinance  of  baptism.  During  Mr.  Por- 
ters  ministry  the  church  enjoyed  several  seasons  of  religious  revival.  In  1780* 
— a  year  distinguished  in  the  annals  of  New  England  for  the  extraordinary 
outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  the  churches — there  were  numbers  gath- 
ered into  the  Church  of  Christ  in  this  place;  but  more  particularly  in  1797-8^ 
during  which  season  of  precious  interest  upwards  of  eighty  were  added  to  the 
Congregational  Church. 

Rev.  Mr.  Porter  was  born  in  Ipswich,  in  this  State,  in  1720,  just  about 
one  century  from  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  on  Plymouth  Rock,  and  lived  to 
witness  the  mighty  events  that  signalized  the  revolution  of  almost  an  entire 
century  from  that  memorable  period.  He  was  graduated  at  Cambridge  Col- 
lege in  1745,  and  studied  divinity  with  Prof.  Wigglesworth,  of  that  institution.  r  12  n  r 
He  was  first  settled  at  Chebosco,  now  Essex,  in  the  County  of  Essex.  After  \j  "^  '-  '-'  " 
his  dismission  from  that  place  he  removed  with  his  family  into  the  British  Do- 
minions, in  New  Brunswick,  where  he  labored  for  a  number  of  years  in  the 
character  of  a  missionary.  From  thence  he  came  into  this  region  and  was. 
finally  installed  over  this  people  in  1 774. 

Mr.  Porter  was  a  man  of  active,  energetic  and  commanding  powers  of 
mind.  He  was  favored  with  a  vigorous  constitution  and  an  uncommon  strength 
and  fullness  of  voice.  His  religious  sentiments  were  those  of  the  Reformation, 
and  his  style  of  preaching,  though  somewhat  redundant — a  characteristic  of 
the  age — was,  nevertheless,  energetic  and  impressive.  During  the  War  of 
the  Revolution,  his  support  in  a  great  measure  failing,  in  consequence  of  the 
severe  pressure  of  the  times,  he  obtained  permission  to  join  the  army  on  the 
Hudson  River,  in  the  capacity  of  chaplain. — He  was  there  during  the  coaflict 
with  Burgoyne  and  the  capture  of  the  British  army.  That  event,  so  propitious 
to  the  American  arms,  he  was  wont  to  say  was  not  the  result  of  human  might 
or  power,  but  by  the  arm  of  Jehovah  of  Hosts.  During  the  heat  of  the  battle 
which  decided  the  fate  of  Burgoyne's  army  Mr.  Porter,  being  with  a  reserve  of 
men  at  a  little  distance  from  the  scene  of  action,  obtained  permission  of  the 


290 

officer  to  retire,  with  as  many  as  were  disposed,  to  a  secluded  spot  at  a  little 
distance,  for  the  purpose  of  prayer,  and,  while  in  the  full  hearing  of  the  tre- 
mendous onset  they  were  there  calling  upon  the  God  of  Armies  to  interpose 
with  His  mighty  arm  in  behalf  of  tbe  cause  of  liberty  and  religion,  the  noise 
of  tbe  battle  died  away  aud  the  victory  of  our  arms  was  decisive.  Perhaps 
there  never  was  a  contest  since  miraculous  powers  ceased,  where  the  interpo- 
sition of  Heaven  was  more  conspicuous,  than  in  that  which  resulted  in  the 
independence  of  these  United  States. 

Mr.  Porter  lived  far  beyond  the  common  lot  of  men.  He  did  not  wholly 
cease  from  the  labors  of  the  ministry  until  he  was  over  ninety  years  of  age; 
and,  indeed,  until  the  last  month  of  his  life  he  was  able  to  conduct  the  devo- 
tions of  the  family  and  to  converse  to  the  religious  edification  of  his  friends. 
With  long  life  he  was  satisfied.  He  came  to  his  grave  in  full  age.  He  was 
gathered  to  his  fathers  like  a  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe  in  its  season.  [Rev.  Mr. 
Porter  entered  the  pulpit  of  his  church,  and  took  part  in  the  service,  when  in 
the  100th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  taken  from  his  house  and  seated  on  a  chair 
placed  on  a  "stone  boat,"  was  conveyed  to  the  meeting  house.  Mr.  Porter, 
the  present  (1887)  proprietor  of  the  Ashfield  Hotel,  on  the  Plain,  is  a  descend- 
■ent  of  his]. 

Rev.  Alvxn  Saaderson  was  installed  colleague  pastor  with  Rev.  Mr.  Por- 
i»r  June  ■22d,  1808,  and  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  on  account  of 
declining  health  January  3d,  1816,  after  an  active  and  successful  ministry  of 
seven  years  and  six  months.  During  this  period  sixty  were  added  to  the 
«hurch — forty- one  by  profession,  nineteen  by  letter;  number  of  baptisms, 
seventy -four.  Mr.  Sanderson  was  bom  in  Deertield  and  graduated  at 
Williams  College.  Although  his  public  ministry  was  short,  yet  it  proved  a 
rich  blessing  to  the  people  of  his  charge.  His  talents  were  of  the  active  kind, 
and,  though  he  did  not  excel  as  a  preacher,  he  was  peculiarly  qualitied  to  do 
good  as  a  pastor  in  his  daily  intercourse  with  all  classes.  His  labors  were, 
emphatically,  in  season  and  out  of  season.  In  the  literary,  moral  aud  religious 
education  of  the  young  he  took  a  lively  interest,  and  to  promote  this  he 
labored  incessantly.  The  burden  of  duties  which  he  took  upon  himself  im- 
paired his  health,  and  the  fatal  blow  M'as  struck  by  an  attempt  to  fill  with  his 
voice  the  illy-constructed  house  of  worship  recently  erected  by  his  congrega- 
tion. The  effort  to  be  heard  in  its  high  pulpit,  and  from  beneath  elevated 
ceiling,  produced  an  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs  and  brought  on  a  gradual 
decline.  In  the  meridian  of  life  his  sun  went  down.  By  the  last  acts  of 
his  life  Mr.  Sanderson  more  fully  developed  the  intiueuce  of  that  charity 
which  seeketh  not  her  own,  over  his  own  heart.  Having  no  family  of  his  own 
to  provide  for,  the  most  of  the  property  which  he  had  acquired  by  his  industry 
and  habits  of  econom}'  he  bequeathed  to  purposes  of  public  learning  and  reli- 
gion. The  cause  of  foreign  and  domestic  missions  shared  each  a  distinct  legacy 
in  his  will.  To  the  society  over  which  he  had  been  settled  he  made  a  generous 
donation  as  a  permanent  fund  for  the  support  of  the  ministry;  and,  lastly,  the 
academy  which  bears  his  name  was  originated  and  endowed,  in  his  earnest 
desire  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  improve  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  rising 
generation  in  learning  and  piety.  He  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  June  22,  1817,  in  the 
thirty-seventh   year  of  his  age.     The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed.     Tbe 


291 

name  of  Alvan  Sanderson  will  long  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  many 
surviving  members  of  his  beloved  flock. 

After  the  dismission  'of  Mr.  Sanderson  the  society  continued  destitute 
of  a  pastor  for  more  than  three  years.  Daring  this  period  it  was  greatly 
afflicted  with  dissensions — the  trying  question  who  should  be  its  next  minister 
ha  I  well  nigh  broken  down  its  energies  and  prostrated  its  ability  to  sustain 
the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel.  And  yet,  even  in  these  troublous  times,  the 
Lord  did  not  forget  his  covenant  people.  Daring  this  season  of  destitution  a 
revival  took  place  which  brought  twenty  into  the  fold  of  the  Redeemer. 

The  writer  of  these  sketches  was  ordained  colleague  pastor  with  Rev.  Mr. 
Porter,  over  this  church  and  society,  .June  19,  1819,  and  continued  in  this 
relation  witn  mutual  harmony  and  confidence  until  May,  1833,  when,  in  conse- 
quence of  feeble  health  and  the  hope  of  being  more  useful  in  a  more  active 
sphere  of  ministerial  labor,  he  was,  at  his  own  request,  and  by  the  kind  con- 
currence of  his  people,  dismissed  by  a  mutual  council.  He  was  born  in  Norton 
and  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1813.  Daring  his  ministry  in  this  place, 
which  continued  nearly  fourteen  years,  three  seasons  of  special  revival  were 
enjoyed.  The  first  was  (luring  the  winter  of  1821-2,  when  upwards  of  eighty 
were  added  to  the  church;  the  second  was  in  the  winter  of  1829  30,  when 
about  the  same  number  was  added;  the  third  was  in  the  autumn,  when  about 
thirty-five  were  gathered  into  the  visible  fold  of  Christ.  During  the  whole  of 
his  ministry  the  number  of  admissions  has  been  274,  all  but  thirty-two  of 
which  have  been  by  profession.  The  number  of  baptisms  during  the  same 
time  were  three  hundred  and  five.  From  the  origin  of  the  Congregational 
Church  until  the  time  of  the  writer's  dismission,  it  being  a  little  more  than 
seventy  years,  766  have  been  admitted  to  its  communion  and  the  ordinance  of 
baptism  administered  to  1,405  persons.  The  number  of  living  members  at  the 
above  date,  in  regular  standmg,  was  290,  of  whom  104  were  males  and  186 
f epiales . 

In  May,  1833,  Rev.  Mason  Grosvenor  was  installed  pastor  of  this  church 
and  society.  Mr.  Grosvenor  was  born  in  Pom  fret,  Conn.,  and  graduated  at 
Yale  College.  Since  the  settlement  of  Mr.  G.  some  additions  have  been  made 
to  the  church.  May  the  Holy  Spirit  continue  to  descend  upon  it  as  rain  upon 
the  mown  grass,  and  many  be  added  unto  it  from  time  to  time,  of  such  as  shall 
be  saved. 

The  following  brethren  have  officiated  as  deacons  in  this  church  in  the 
order  in  which  their  names  are  recorded,  viz:  Ebenezer  Belding,  Joshua  Sher- 
win,  John  Bement,  Jonathan  Taylor,  John  Porter,  Enos  Smith,  Elijah  Paine, 
Samuel  Bement,  Daniel  Williams,  Jared  Bement.  Deacons  Paine,  Williams 
and  Jared  Bement  are  still  in  oflice. 

The  first  Congregational  house  of  worship  was  built  by  the  Proprietors. 
The  frame  was  set  up  on  the  hill  west  of  the  dwelling  of  Dimick  Ellis,  Esq., 
but  before  it  was  covered  it  was  taken^down  and  set  up  on  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  old  burying  ground  on  the  plain.  The  removal  took  place  in  1 767.  The 
present  house  of  worship  was  raised  July,  1812,  and  occupied  by  the  congrega- 
tion in  the  autumn  of  1813.  May  the  glory  of  this  latter  house  be  greater  than 
that  of  the  former. 

In  1814  a  second  Baptist  society  was  formed  in  this  town,  and  a  meeting- 
house built  on  what  is  called  the  Fiat,  about  one  mile  east  of  the  Congregational 


292 

Chnroh.  For  a  number  of  years  Elder  Loummus  officiated  as  the  minister  of 
this  society.  In  1820  Mr.  L.  removed  into  the  State  of  New  York.  Since 
then  they  have  had  the  occasional  labors  of  Rev.  Orra  Martin,  from  Bristol, 
Conn.,  who  resides  in  the  town.  This  society  shared  in  the  revival  of  1829-30, 
when  a  church  was  organized  with  twenty-seven  members.  Their  present 
number,  probably,  does  not  vary  much  from  what  it  was  then. 

In  1820  an  Episcopal  society  was  formed  in  this  town,  and  in  1829  a  neat 
and  commodious  house  erected  and  consecrated  by  the  Bishop,  by  the  name  of 
St.  John's  Church.  The  society  has  been  supplied  at  different  times  by  the 
labors  of  Rev.  Titus  Strong,  Rev.  Lot  Jones,  Rev.  William  Withington, 
Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey,  and  Rev.  Silas  Blaisdale,  who  now  resides  with  them. 
Their  number  of  communicaats  in  1831  was  about  thirty.  Their  number  has 
probably  increased  since,  but  how  many  I  have  not  the  means  of  knowing. 

During  the  tour  or  five  years  past  the  Methodists  have  established  a  place 
of  worship,  near  the  southeast  corner  of  the  town,  and  their  circuit  preachers 
occasionally  officiate  in  other  parts  of  the  town.  They  shared  in  the  revival 
of  1830.  Their  number  of  regular  communicants  I  have  no  means  of  ascer- 
taining. 

Each  of  these  religious  societies  sustains  a  Sabbath  school,  through  a  part 
or  all  of  the  year,  and  has  a  library  for  the  use  of  its  scholars;  that  belonging 
to  the  Congregational  Society  contains  rising  of  500  bound  volumes.  Among 
these  different  denominations,  mingled  together  throughout  the  town,  a  good 
degree  of  harmony  prevails.  May  the  language  of  Abraham  and  Lot  ever  be 
theirs:  "Let there  be  no  strife  between  me  and  thee,  for  we  be  brethren." 


EDUCATION. 

The  General  Court,  as  we  have  before  noticed,  in  their  original  grant  to 
the  proprietors,  made  express  provision  for  the  maintenance  of  common  schools 
by  reserving  one  right  for  this  object.  In  the  wisdom  of  our  fathers  the  cause 
of  education — one  of  the  main  pillars  of  a  republican  government — was  not  to  be 
overlooked  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  country.  The  annual  income  of  the 
school  lands  is  a  little  rising  of  one  hundred  dollars.  To  this  an  annual  tax  of 
about  six  hundred  dollars  is  added,  and  expended  in  thirteen  districts,  accord- 
ing to  the  number  of  scholars  in  each.  The  whole  sum  thus  expended  averages 
about  one  dollar  annually  to  each  scholar.  The  quantity  of  instruction  in  each 
district  varies  according  to  the  number  of  scholars;  taken  together  it  will  aver- 
age about  six  months  to  each  district.  Although  the  standard  of  common 
education  is  not  what  it  ought  to  be,  and  what  it  might  be,  in  this  town,  yet 
it  has  much  improved  during  the  last  ten  years,  and  is  not  now  inferior,  it  is 
believed,  to  what  it  is  in  other  towns  similarly  situated  in  the  Commonwealth. 
The  occasional  establishment  of  select  schools  in  the  vicinity,  and  particularly 
those  sustained  by  Miss  Mary  Lyon,  now  of  Ipswich,  has  done  much  to  qualify 
teachers  for  the  more  successful  management  of  district  schools. 

After  Rev.  Mr.  Sanderson  had  resigned  the  duties  of  the  ministry,  his 
health  remaining  feeble,  he  prepared  a  building,  one-half  at  his  own  expense, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1816  opened  a  school  for  the  instruction  of  youth  of  both 
sexes  in  the  higher  branches  of  a  useful  education.  Though  soon  interrupted 
in  his  personal  labors,  yet  at  his  decease  he  laid  the  foundation  for  a  continued 


293 

seminary  for  the  promotioa  of  learning,  morality  and  religion  in  the  rising 
generation.  In  1821  an  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained  under  the  name  of 
Sanderson  Academy,  and  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  it  went  into  perriia- 
nent  operation  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Abijah  Cross,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
College.  After  Mr.  C,  followed  successively  in  the  labor  of  instruction, 
Messrs.  A.  Converse  and  S.  W.  Clark,  from  Dartmouth  College;  Messrs.  B.  B. 
Edwards,  H.  Flagg  and  R.  C.  Coffin,  of  Amherst  College,  and  Rev.  Silas 
Rlaisdale.  For  a  number  of  years  past,  in  consequence  of  the  deficiency  of  its 
funds,  but  more  especially  the  want  of  the  united  patronage  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town,  it  has  almost  wholly  ceased  its  operation.  It  is  melancholy  to 
contemplate  an  institution  founded  in  the  prayers  and  charities  of  a  man  of 
(iod,  going  to  disuse  and  decay  in  the  midst  of  a  population  greatly  needing 
its  advantages,  merely  for  the  want  of  a  little  harmonious  fostering  care. 

A  social  library  containing  about  175  well  selected  volumes,  and  yearly 
increased  by  an  annual  tax  of  fifty  cents  upon  each  share,  has  been  in  operation 
since  1815.  During  the  continuance  of  the  academy  a  debating  society,  and 
afterwards  a  lyceum,  were  productive  of  much  interest  and  profit  to  the  young 
people  of  the  village. 

TE.HPEKANCE. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  town,  in  common  with  their  fellow-citizens  located 
in  a  region  of  fruit  and  distilleries,  have  sufifered  much  from  the  scourge  of 
intemperance.  For  years  the  wave  of  liquid  fire  rolled  over  those  hills  and 
valleys,  carrying  disease  and  poverty  and  death  in  its  trail,  with  scarcely  an 
obstacle  to  withstand  its  course.  Many  of  the  distilleries,  first  set  up  for  the 
distillation  of  mint,  by  a  little  additional  expense  of  vats  could  be  employed 
for  a  part  of  the  year  in  distilling  cider.  It  is  believed  that  for  a  number  of 
years  there  were  as  many  as  eight  or  ten  of  these  magazines  of  destruction  in 
operation  in  the  town.  It  was  almost  as  much  a  matter  of  course  for  the 
farmer  to  take  his  cider  to  the  still  and  take  home  his  stock  of  brandy  for 
family  use,  as  it  was  for  him  to  carry  his  grain  to  the  mill  and  furnish  the  staff 
of  life  for  his  household.  But  the  times  are  changed — the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
has  lifted  up  a  standard  against  the  enemy  of  all  righteousness.     In  the  spring 

of  a  society  was  formed  on  the  principle  of  total  abstinence,  consisting  at 

first  of  twelve  members.  Many  sober  men  were  at  first  in  doubt  whether  it 
was  not  pressing  the  cause  too  far;  farmers  were  people  that  they  could  not 
hire  their  labor  without  the  use  of  ardent  spirits.  But  on  further  considera- 
tion their  difficulties  vanished  one  after  another;  the  members  of  the  society 
increased  rapidly,  until  in  the  course  of  a  few  months  rising  of  600  names  were 
found  in  the  temperance  constitution.  The  enemies  of  the  cause  were  alarmed; 
they  made  every  effort  in  their  power  to  stay  the  work  of  refonn;  a  strong 
union  between  the  lovers  of  strong  drink,  the  lovers  of  the  gain  of  it,  and  the 
lovers  of  office,  was  formed,  and  showed  itself  at  the  polls  and  wherever  any 
attack  could  be  made  upon  the  friends  of  temperance.  But  still  the  good  cause 
could  not  be  put  down;  opposition  only  served  to  strike  its  roots  deeper  into 
the  hearts  of  its  friends;  an  efficient  society  was  formed  in  the  north  section  of 
the  town,  whose  fruits  were  soon  manifest  in  the  work  of  reform.  The  friends 
of  temperance  of  different  religious  denominations  go  hand  in  hand  in  the 
cause;  and,  although  one  or  two  distilleries,  and  a  few  retailing  stores  and  some 


294 

temperate  drinkers  stand  in  the  way,  yet  a  pnrifyio^  process  is  in  progress 
which  will  not  stop  until  the  whole  town  and  region  is  reclaimed  from  the 
cruel  grasp  of  this  common  enemy  of  God  and  of  man. 


"  Fly  swift  around,  ye  wheels  of  time. 
And  bring  the  welcome  day." 

PROFESSIONAL  M£N. 


> 


The  following  persons,  originally  inhabitants  of  this  town,  have  been  edu- 
cated at  college,  viz:  Rev.  Preserved  Smith,  graduated  at  Brown  University 
and  settled  in  the  ministry  in  Rowe;  Rev.  Freeman  Sears,  Williams  College, 
settled  in  Natick  and  deceased  in  1812;  Rev.  Samuel  Parker,  Williams  Col- 
lege, residing  in  the  State  of  New  York;  Frederick  Howes,  Esq.,  Cambridge 
College,  attorney  at  law  in  Salem;  Francis  Bassett,  Esq.,  Cambridge  College, 
attorney  at  law  in  Boston;  Rev.  Elijah  Paine,  Jr.,  Amherst  College,  formerly 
settled  in  Claremont,  N.  H. ;  Rev.  William  P.  Paine,  Amherst  College,  settled 
in  Holden;  Rev.  Charles  Porter,  Amherst  College,  settled  in  Gloucester;  Rev. 
Morris  White,  Dartmouth  College,  settled  in  Southampton;  Rev.  William 
Bement,  Dartmouth  College,  settled  in  Easthampton;  Leonard  Bement,  Esq.,* 
Union  College,  attorney  at  law,  Albany,  N.  Y. ;  Francis  Gillett,  Yale  College, 
attorney  at  law  in  Ohio;  Rev.  John  Alden,  Jr.,  Amherst  College,  principal  of 
Franklin  Manual  Labor  School  in  Shelbum;  Mr.  Adell  Harvey,  Amherst 
College,  student  in  Divinity;  Rev.  Anson  Dyer,  not  publicly  educated,  labor- 
ing as  an  evangelist.  Several  young  men  are  now  in  the  process  of  a  public 
education. 

Hon.  Elijah  Paine,  a  native  of  Hatfield,  has  been  the  only  attorney  at  law 
which  has  settled  in  this  town  until  very  recently.  Mr.  Paine  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Senate  of  this  Commonwealth  and  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court 
of  Session  in  this  county  until  the  time  of  its  dissolution.  David  Aiken,  Esq., 
has  recently  opened  an  office  as  attorney  at  law  in  this  town. 

The  following  regular  authorized  physicians  have  resided  in  this  town  in 
the  order  in  which  their  names  occur:  Moses  Hayden,  Phineas  Bartlet,  Francis 
Mantor,  David  Dickinson,  afterwards  settled  in  the  ministry  in  PlainHeld,  N. 
H. ;  Hon.  Enos  Smith,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  once  a  member  of  the 
Senate  from  Franklin  County,  now  living  in  Granby;  Rivera  Nash,  Green  Hol- 
loway,  Lee,  Atherton  Clark,  now  living  in  Cummington;  William  Hamilton, 
now  in  Providence,  R.  I. ;  Jared  Bement,  a  native  of  this  town;  Charles  Knowl- 
ton.     The  last  two  are  now  practising  physicians  in  the  town. 

COUNTY  AND  TOWN  OFFICERS. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  been  commissioned  Justices  of  the  Peace 
while  residing  in  this  town,  viz:  Jacob  Sherwin,  Philip  Phillips,  Ephraim 
Williams,  Elijah  Paine,  Enos  Smith.  Htury  Bassett,  Thomas  White,  Levi 
Cook,  Dimick  Ellis,  James  McFarland,  Russell  Bement,  Chester  Sanderson. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  represented  this  town  in  the  Legislature  of 
the  Commonwealth,  viz:  Capt.  EHsha  Cranston,  Dea.  Jonathan  Taylor,  Benja- 


*Jiidge  Bement  remoTed  to  Grand  BapMs,  Mich.,  about  1850,  where  he  died  twenty  to 
twenty-five  years  later.    He  was  a  highly  respected  man. 


295 

min  Rogers,  Chileab  Smith,  Wm.  Williams,  Esq.,  Philip  Phillips,  Esq.,  Ephraim 
Williams,  Esq.,  Hon.  Elijah  Paine,  Henry  Bassett,  Esq.,  Thomas  White,  Esq., 
Hon.  Enos  Smith,  Capt.  Bethuel  Lilley,  Levi  Cook,  Esq.,  Dimick  Ellis,  Esq., 
Capt.  Roswell  Ranney,  Dea.  .Samuel  Bement,  Chester  Sanderson,  Esq.,  Jona- 
than Sears,  Seth  Church,  Anson  Bement. 

The  following  persons  have  served  as  Town  Clerks,  viz:  Samuel  Belding, 
Benjamin  Phillips,  Jacob  Sherwin,  Esq.,  Dr.  Phineas  Bartlet,  Dr.  Francis 
Mantor,  Levi  Cook,  Esq. ,  Hon.  E.  Paine,  Capt.  Selah  Norton,  Henry  Bassett, 
Esq.,  Lewis  Williams,  Hon.  Enos  Smith,  Dimick  Ellis,  Esq.,  James  McFarland, 
Esq.,  Russell  Bement,  Esq.,  Wait  Bement. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  served  as  Town  Treasurers,  viz:  Benjamin 
Phillips,  DavidAlden,  Dr.  Phineas  Bartlet,  Warren  Green,  Jr.,  Ephraim 
Williams,  Esq.,  Levi  Cook,  Esq.,  Hon.  E.  Paine,  Charles  Williams,  Henry 
Bassett,  Esq.,  Chester  Sanderson,  Esq. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  served  as  Selectmen,  viz:  Ebenezer  Beld 
ing,  Reuben  Ellis,  Nathan  Chapin,  Philip  Phillips,  Esq.,  Moses  Fuller,  Chileab  ^\/ 
Smith,  Thomas  Phillips,  Samuel  Belding,  Dea.  Jonathan  Taylor,  Aaron  Lyon, 
"Samuel  Allen,  Timothy  Lewis,  Isaac  Shepard,  Capt.  Joshua  Taylor,  Peter 
Cross,  Dr.  Bartlet,  Jacob  Sherwin,  Esq.,  Dea.  John  Bement,  Rowland  Sears, 
Warren  Green,  Jr.,  Uriah  Goodwin,  John  Sherwin,  Thomas  Stocking,  Benja- 
min Rogers,  Chileab  Smith,  John  Ellis,  Ephraim  Williams,  Esq.,  William 
Flower,  Philip  Phillips,  Esq.,  Capt.  John  Bennet,  Lemuel  Spnrr,  Abner  Kel- 
ley,  Joshua  Howes,  Abiezer  Perkins,  Hon.  E.  Paine,  Samuel  Guilford,  f^bene- 
zer  Smith,  John  Alden,  Thomas  White,  Esq.,  Capt.  Bethuel  Lilley,  Josiah 
Drake,  Chipman  Smith,  Nathaniel  Holmes,  Dimick  EUis,  Esq.,  Capt.  Roswell 
Ranney,  Jonathan  Sears,  Samuel  Eldredge,  Simeon  Phillips,  Sanford  Boies, 
Austin  Lilley,  Seth  Church,  George  Hall,  Capt.  William  Bassett. 


CASUALTY. 

In  May,  1827,  an  event  occurred  near  the  center  of  this  town  of  too  signal 
importance  in  its  history  to  be  omitted  in  these  sketches.  I  refer  to  the  acci- 
dental drowning  of  five  persons  in  the  Pond  west  of  the  Plain.  Their  names 
were  Dea.  David  Lyon,  a  worthy  man,  aged  63,  and  his  son,  Aaron,  aged  18, 
Arnold  Drake,  aged  28,  and  two  sons  of  Mr.  Eli  Gray,  William  and  Robert,  one 
15,  the  other  13,  These  persons,  atten/ied  by  a  few  others,  left  their  families 
and  friends  on  a  beautiful  m  »rmng  in  May,  to  follow  their  flocks  to  the  place 
of  washing,  under  as  fair  a  prospect  of  returning  at  evening  as  ever  they  went 
out  with  in  any  previous  morning  in  their  lives;  but,  a'as!  they  were  all 
borne  home  lifeless  corpses.  In  a  tit  of  merriment,  excited  by  a  poisonous  stim- 
ulant which  was  then  deemed  a  necessary  appendage  to  the  washing  of  sheep, 
six  of  the  company  seated  themselves  in  a  log  canoe,  with  two  sheep,  for  the 
purpose  of  a  short  sail.  On  reaching  deep  water,  about  eight  or  ten  yards 
from  the  shore,  the  canoe  dipped  water,  filled  and  went  under.  Two  of  the 
company — the  eldest  son  of  Deacon  Lyon  and  a  boy — «vith  the  sheep,  sprung 
for  the  shore  and  reached  it  safely;  Drake,  Lyon  and  the  young  Grays  imme- 
diately sunk  and  disappeared.  Dea.  Lyon,  from  the  shore  seeing  his  son  in 
danger,  sprang  in  to  his  assistance,  but  on  stepping  suddenly  from  shoal  to 
deep  water  immediately  disappeared.     It  is  remarkable  that  not  one  of  them. 


296 

after  sinking  the  tirst  time,  ever  rose  again  until  their  bodies  were  raised  by 
others.  Alarm  was  immediately  given  by  those  from  the  bank,  the  people  of  tho 
village  were  soon  on  the  spot  and  measures  immediately  set  in  operation  to  raise 
their  bodies.  A  young  man  dove  and  brought  up  Dea.  Lyon,  who  had  been 
under  perhaps  fifteen  minutes.  They  next  succeeded  in  bringing  up  Drake,  after 
perhaps  thirty  minutes'  immersion;  next,  the  body  of  young  Lyon;  and  last, 
after  being  under  about  an  hour,  were  brought  up  the  bodies  of  the  young 
Grays  locked  in  each  other's  arms.  Measures  for  resuscitation  were  immedi- 
ately commenced  on  the  shore,  and  prosecuted  after  they  were  carried  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Asa  Sanderson  for  several  hours,  but  all  in  vain ;  the  vital  spark 
had  fled,  nor  could  it  be  recalled;  not  the  least  sign  of  reanimation  appeared 
in  either  of  them.  They  were  ensnared  in  an  evil  hour.  In  an  unexpected 
moment  their  souls  were  required  of  them.  After  all  hope  of  recovering  the 
drowned  persons  was  given  up  messengers  were  dispatched  to  carry  the  sad 
tidings  to  the  widows,  children,  parents,  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  deceased. 
Soon  the  messengers  returned,  bringing  with  them  the  widows  of  Dea.  Lyon 
and  Drake,  and  the  daughter  ot  Dea.  L.,  who  was  the  stepmother  of  the  young 
Grays.  The  affecting  scenes  of  that  interview  may  in  some  faint  measure  be 
imagined,  but  not  described.  On  the  following  day  the  funeral  of  these  five 
corpses  was  attended  in  the  presence  of  a  large  concourse  of  sympathizing 
friends  and  strangers,  at  the  late  dwelling  of  Dea.  Lyon.  An  appropriate  dis- 
course was  preached  on  the  occasion  by  Rev.  Mr.  Martin,  from  Eccles.  ix.  12, 
after  which  their  remains  were  deposited  in  the  graveyard  by  the  Baptist  meet- 
ing-house, in  the  north  part  of  the  town.  Who  that  witnessed  any  part  of  that 
appalling  scene  can  pass  by  the  banks  of  that  secluded  pond  without  recalling 
fresh  to  mind  the  events  of  that  melancholy  day?  And  who  that  ponders 
upon  the  events  of  that  day  can  think  lightly  of  the  Savior's  exhortation: 
"  Watch,  therefore,  for  ye  know  not  the  hour  when  the  Son  of  Man  cometh." 


CONCLUSION. 

Bat  it  is  time  to  bring  these  sketches — already,  perhaps,  too  far  protracted 
— to  a  close.  Permit  me  then,  my  brethren  and  friends,  with  whom  I  have 
been  permitted  quietly  to  sojourn  for  a  time,  in  conclusion  to  say: 

It  is  now  about  ninety  years  since  the  voice  of  the  civilized  emigrant 
first  broke  upon  the  silence  of  this,  then  lonely,  wilderness.  Three  gen- 
erations of  men  have  come  up  and  passed  off  the  stage  since  your  fathers 
came  hither.  The  lofty  forests  which  then  crowned  these  hills  and  valleys 
have  bowed  to  the  power  and  industry  of  man,  and  given  place  to  cultivated 
fields  and  thriving  villages.  The  haunts  of  wild  beasts  have  been  supplanted 
by  the  abodes  of  civilized  society.  You  of  this  generation  roam  securely  over 
your  fields,  and  sleep  quietly  on  your  beds,  where  once  lurked  in  ambush  the 
merciless  savage,  and  where  your  fathers  toiled  by  day  and  lay  down  at  night 
with  their  arms  by  their  side.  This  goodly  heritage,  with  all  its  civil,  literary 
and  religious  blessings,  purchased  by  their  toils,  privation  and  blood,  you  now 
enjoy.  God  forbid  that  you  should  prove  so  ungrateful  as  to  despise  such  a 
birthright.  Think  not  lightly,  brethren  and  friends,  of  the  talents  committed 
to  your  care.  Ninety  years  to  come,  and  where  will  most  of  you  be  ?  Who 
will  occupy  your  possessions  "i     Who  will  dwell  in  your  houses,  roam  over  your 


297 

tills  aucl  through  your  valleys,  and  sit  in  your  sanctu-iries  ?  Who  will  break 
the  bread  of  life  to  the  generations  who  are  to  come  after  you,  and  point  the 
dying  sinner  to  the  Lamb  of  God?  And  what  will  be  the  character  of  the  his- 
tory which  will  fill  up  the  intervening  years  ?  These  are  questions  of  solemn 
import,  and  the  practical  answer  must  be  given  by  you  of  this  generation. 
God  in  mercy  grant  that  you  may  so  live,  and  train  up  your  children,  and  so 
aid  in  laying  broad  and  deep  and  strong  the  foundations  of  knowledge,  moral- 
ity, religion  and  good  government,  that  future  generations,  as  they  come  to 
reap  the  happy  fruits  of  your  labors,  may  rise  up  and  call  you  blessed,  as  you 
are  permitted  to  do  the  memory  of  your  fathers,  now  no  more. 

THOMAS  SHEPARD. 


NAME  OF  ASHFIEIiD. 


The  original  forests  of  Ashfield  contained  a  large  proportion  of  White 
and  Black  Ash  trees,  and  it  is  thought  that  the  name  given  the  town,  on  its 
incorporation,  was  thus  suggested. 


In  the  traditions  of  the  Annable  family,  (Lieut.  Edward  Annable's  wife, 
Jemima  Smith,  was  a  granddaughter  of  Richard  Ellis.  See  No.  38,  page  92, ) 
it  was  related  of  Richard  Ellis,  of  Ashfield,  "  that  his  parents  were  Welsh,  his 
father  being  an  officer  under  Cromwell,  who  overturned  the  English  govern 
ment,  which  at  that  time  was  strongly  Catholic.  After  the  downfall  of 
Cromwell  many  of  his  adherents  had  to  leave  the  country,  among  whom  was 
Officer  Ellis,  who  fled  to  Ireland,  where  the  son  Richard  was  born." 

*See  page  10. 


X 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT  IN  ASHFLELD. 

The  following  item  is  from  Mr.  H.  S.  Ranney,  of  Ashfield.  In  perusing 
the  history  of  the  township  of  Northfield  I  noticed  the  following  statement: 
"In  1739 Richard  Ellis  and  his  son,  Reuben,  built  a  dwelling-house  (log  hut) 
and  broke  up  five  or  six  acres  of  land  in  township  No.  1  (Westminster),  on  the 
west  side  of  Connecticut  river.  Seth  Tisdale  and  John  Barney  were  with 
them. " 

At  the  time  named  Northfield  was  the  first  town  above  Deerfield,  and 
Westminster  about  twenty  miles  above  Northfield,  in  the  State  of  Vermont. 
So  Richard  Ellis  and  son  did  not  come  here  (Ashfield)  without  experience  in  Y 
roughing  it."  Richard  Ellis'  son  Matthew  was  born  in  Easton  in  1739,  and 
soon  after  he  took  his  family  to  Deerfield,  where  their  next  child,  John,  was 
born,  in  January,  1742.  Most  likely  his  family  resided  in  Deerfield,  while  he 
and  Reuben  were  engaged  in  Westminster,  and  also  for  the  first  year  or  two 
that  they  were  making  a  start  in  Ashfield.  This  must  have  been  about  1742, 
and  it  is  well  established  that  he  was  the  first  settler  in  that  town.  [See 
,page  11.  J 


29« 

It  is  hardly  probable  that  such  was  the  fact,  so  far  as  Richard's  father 
being  an  officer  under  Cromwell. 

Oliver  Cromwell,  one  of  the  most  noted  personages  in  I'^nglish  history,  was 
the  son  of  a  country  gentleman,  and  was  born  in  1599.  He  was  a  strict  Puri- 
tan, a  sect  or  class  of  people  who  desired  a  wide  departure  from  both  the 
English  and  Roman  Catholic  churches.  Charles  I.  was  on  the  English  throne 
from  1625  to  1649,  and  he  attempted  to  crush  the  Puritans.  This  created 
civil  war.  Cromwell  was  a  leader  against  Charles,  and  when  the  latter  was 
dethroned  and  beheaded,  in  1649,  Cromwell  was  elected  head  of  the  government 
under  the  title  of  Lord  Protector  of  the  Commonwealth.  Charles  II.,  Prince 
of  Wales,  was  the  rightful  heir  to  the  crown,  but  did  not  succeed  in  establish- 
ing his  cause  until  1660,  after  Cromwell's  death.  The  latter  died  in  1658, 
when  his  son,  Richard  Cromwell,  was  at  the  head  of  the  Commonwealth  about 
one  year,  when  he  abdicated. 

Charles  II.  was  then  crowned  and  reigned  until  1685.  He  died  without 
heirs,  when  his  brother,  .Tames  II.,  was  crowned,  and  reigned  until  1689. 
James  was  a  thorough  Catholic,  and  through  religious  dissensions  he  was  over 
thrown,  and  William  of  Orange,  a  Holland  Prince,  was  invited  to  the  English 
throne.  Prince  William  was  a  leading  Protestant,  and  he  had  married,  in 
1688,  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  King  James  II..  just  dethroned.  They  were 
jointly  crowned,  as  William  and  Mary,  in  1689.  Very  soon  thereafter  war 
arose  between  England  and  France,  on  account  of  the  King  of  France,  Louis 
XIV.,  espousing  the  cause  of  James  II.  of  England.  This  was  called  King 
William's  war,  mentioned  on  page  277.  The  conflict  extended  to  the  American 
Colonies,  and  led  to  the  expedition  against  the  Canadas  by  those  who  were 
afterwards  granted  rights  of  land  in  Ashfield.  In  1694  Mary  died,  and  Wil- 
liam was  sole  monarch  of  England.  During  the  last  quarter  of  the  seventeenth 
century  was  the  bloodiest  era  in  English  history.  Protestants  and  Catholics 
were  in  constant  strife.  King  William  had  many  conflicts  with  James  II.  and 
his  supporters,  who  were  trying  to  recover  the  throne.  James  was  driven  into 
Ireland,  whence  he  and  many  of  his  followers  fled  to  France  and  never 
returned.  Celebrated  among  their  battles  were  Boyne  and  Aughrim,  Wil- 
liam died  in  1702,  and,  as  he  had  no  heirs,  Anne,  sister  of  Mary  and  daughter 
of  James  II.,  became  Queen. 

In  1692  William  and  his  army  followed  James  into  Ireland,  and  it  is  more 
reasonable  to  believe  that  Officer  Ellis  (Richard's  father)  was  connected  with 
him  than  that  he  was  a  soldier  under  Cromwell,  whose  career  ended  nearly 
forty  years  before. 

The  account  of  Richard  Ellis'  boyhood,  as  given  by  Rev.  Mr.  Shepard,  in 
his  Sketches  of  Ashfield  (see  page  278),  does  not  differ  materially  from  that 
above,  nor  that  on  page  10,  which  the  writer  derived  from  those  closely 
related  to  Richard,  and  which  may  be  taken  as  very  nearly,  if  not  exactly,  the 
true  account  of  him.  While  he  was  born  in  Dublin,  there  is  no  doubt  that  his 
father  was  Welsh. 


COTEMPORARY  EVENTS. 


The  history  of  the  American  Colonies  was  very  closely  related  to  that  of 
England  and  France,  is  each  had  their  possessions  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 


299 

Hence  when  war  arose  between  those  great  kingdoms  it  usually  extended  to- 
these  colonies. 

After  the  death  of  King  William  (Prince  of  Orange)  in  1702,  Queen  Anne 
reigned  until  her  death,  in  1714.  Then  came  George  I.j  who  was  on  the 
throne  until  1727,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  George  II.,  whose  reign 
lasted  until  1760.  During  his  reign  the  settlements  in  America  were  greatly 
extended.  Oglethorpe  formed  a  colony  in  Georgia  named  in  honor  of  the 
King.  Detroit  and  most  of  the  region  west  of  the  AUeghanies  was  claimed  by 
the  French.  In  1755  Gen.  Braddock,  with  an  army  of  English  regulars, 
joined  by  many  colonists,  marched  against  the  French,  who  had  established  a 
fort  at  what  is  now  Pittsburg,  Pa.  In  this  war  the  Indians  joined  the  French 
and  led  Braddock  into  an  ambush,  and  would  have  destroyed  his  forces  had  it 
not  been  for  the  aid  rendered  him  by  young  Washington  and  his  regiment  of 
Virginians. 

At  the  same  time,  war  between  the  English  and  their  colonists  on  one 
side,  and  the  French  and  Indians  on  the  other,  was  raging  in  New  York  and 
New  England.  The  French  were  not  always  able  to  restrain  their  Indian  allies, 
and  many  of  the  colonists  were  massacred.  It  was  the  imminent  fear  of  this 
which  led  the  early  settlers  in  Ashfield  to  abandon  their  possessions  and  go 
to  the  older  settlements,  east  of  the  Connecticut  river,  from  1755  to  1758.  It 
is  said  that  at  the  beginning  of  this  war  the  French  possessions  in  America 
exceeded  the  English  twenty  to  one.  In  1759  the  English  General,  Wolfe, 
captured  Quebec;  and  all  of  Canada,  including  Detroit,  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  English.  Peace  folio A^ed,  and  quietness  once  more  reigned  over  the  colo- 
nists, greatly  to  their  rejoicing. 

George  II.  died  in  1760,  and  his  son,  George  III.,  ascended  the  throne, 
which  he  held  until  1820,  although  for  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  he  became 
imbecile,  and  his  son,  George  IV.,  was  at  the  head  of  the  government  as  Prince 
Regent.  It  was  during  the  reign  of  George  III.  that  the  American  colonists 
had  the  long  and  desperate  struggle — for  nearly  eight  years — in  which  they 
finally  won  their  independence.  It  was  during  George  III.'s  time  that  the 
Irish  Parliament  was  abolished;  which  now,  under  the  leadership  of  Pamell 
and  Gladstone,  is  so  earnestly  sought  to  be  restored.  George  III.  was  said  to 
have  been  pure,  pious  and  honest,  often  mistaken  in  policy,  but  won  the  love 
of  the  English  people.  It  was  by  his  arbitrary  and  overbearing  acts,  mainly, 
which  led  his  colonists  in  America  to  revolt  in  1775  and  declare  their  inde- 
pendence. This  same  unwise  course,  also,  was  the  cause  of  the  last  war  of  the 
United  States  with  England,  in  1812.  His  son,  George  IV.,  was  drunken  and 
protlgate,  although  denominated  by  his  favorites  "the  first  gentleman  in  Eu- 
rope." The  present  Prince  of  Wales,  according  to  reports,  is  his  counterpart 
in  most  respects.  His  reign  extended  to  1830,  when,  on  his  death,  having  no 
heirs,  his  brother,  William  IV.,  betame  King,  for  seven  years,  up  to  1837. 
During  William's  time  negro  slavery  was  abolished  in  all  the  British  posses- 
sions. The  first  railroad  was  constructed — that  from  Liverpool  to  Manchester. 
King  William  and  the  four  Georges  who  preceded  him  were  of  the  Hanover 
family  of  Holland  Princes.  They  were  all  more  Dutch  than  English  in  their 
tastes  and  nature.  On  William's  death,  in  1837,  having  no  male  heirs,  the 
crown  fell  to  his  niece,  Victoria,  the  present  (1887)  Queen,  who  has  just  cele- 
brated the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  her  coronation.     While  Victoria  is  a  woman 


300  , 

of  no  marked  talents,  her  reign  has  been  a  credit  to  her,  and  she  commands 
the  love  and  respect  of  the  English  people  in  a  high  degree. 

Although  England  is  a  noted  and  historic  country,  her  climate  is  not  the 
most  desirable,  judging  from  telegraphic  reports  of  the  day  on  which  this  page 
is  written  (October  13,  1887):  "Snow  storms,  accompanied  by  thunder  and 
lightning,  prevailed  throughout  England  and  Wales  yesterday,  and  the  country 
roads  in  Wales  are  blocked  with  snow."  It  is  probable  that  nothing  in  New 
England  equaled  this  at  the  date  given. 


♦NOTE  ni. 


As  an  illustration  of  the  peculiar  temper  of  Richard  Ellis'  master,  during 
his  early  years  in  this  country,  he  related  the  following  incident:  On  a  time, 
one  of  the  daughters  of  his  master  accidentally  broke  her  father's  favorite 
cider  mug,  and  it  was  agreed  that  for  a  shilling  Richard  was  to  assume  the 
responsibility  of  the  matter  and  take  the  expected  flogging.  When  the  dis- 
covery was  made,  and  the  parent  savagely  asked  the  daughter  who  did  it,  she 
silently  pointed  to  Richard,  who  sat  in  the  comer  and  who  meekly  nodded  as- 
sent. The  master  looked  towards  the  boy  and  in  fierce  language  said:  "Ah, 
you  little  Irish  brat!  "  and  then  turned  away.  Richard  missed  the  flogging, 
and,  in  consequence,  was  refused  the  promised  shilling. 


KARLT  SETTLERS  IN  MEVe  ENGLAND. 

The  Pilgrims  originated  in  Scrooby,  England,  and  were  called  "Separa- 
tists," on  account  of  their  separating  from  the  English  church.  In  1608,  on 
account  of  persecution,  they  emigrated  to  Amsterdam,  in  Holland,  where, 
from  internal  dissensions,  there  was  another  separation,  and  part  of  them  went 
to  Ley  den,  in  1609,  twenty  miles  distant.  The  penalty  in  England  for  sepa- 
ration was  banishment;  and  yet,  when  they  attempted  to  leave  England  they 
were  arrested  and  detained  several  months,  as  it  was  supposed  that  they 
intended  to  leave  for  the  Colony  of  Virginia,  where  none  could  go  without 
a  royal  license. 

In  1620  the  Separatists,  then  called  "Pilgrims,"  had  increased  in  Holland 
to  aboat  300  persons,  when  they  resolved  to  find  a  larger  field  for  their  opera- 
tions. In  1620  one  hundred  and  two  set  sail  in  the  Mayflower  for  New  Eng- 
land, where  they  landed  at  midwinter  in  Plymouth,  after  a  passage  of  sixty- 
six  days.  The  balance  came  over  in  the  Fortune  in  1621,  the  James  and  Anne 
in  1623,  and  the  Handmaid  in  1630. 

The  Mayflower  landed  at  Plymouth,  in  Cape  Cod  harbor,  in  December, 
1620,  with  102  persons.  During  that  month  six  died,  and  eight  more  in  Jan- 
uary, seventeen  in  February  and  thirteen  in  M  arch .  Within  the  first  year  fifty 
deaths  had  occurred.  It  was  in  the  face  of  such  discouragements  that  the 
Pilgrims  made  their  home  in  the  New  World. 

These  noble  men  and  women,  exiles  from  their  native  land,  braved  the 
ocean's  storms  in  winter  on  a  small  vessel  of  250  tons.     It  was  known  that 

*  See  page  10. 


30I 

they  intended  making  their  settlement  at  New  Amsterdam,  near  what  is  now 
New  York  city.  Historians  have  never  been  able  to  decide  as  to  why  they 
landed  at  Cape  Cod,  unless  it  was  from  an  error  in  the  calculations  of  the  nav- 
igator.  After  resting  here  a  few  days  they  attempted  to  round  the  cape  and 
go  further  south,  towards  Xew  York — or  Virginia,  as  the  whole  coast  was 
then  called;  but  the  storm  drove  them  back  and  they  were  glad  to  make  a  final 
landing. 

From  their  settlement  on  the  rock-bound  shores  of  New  England  has 
grown  out  the  greatest  consequences  ever  recorded  in  the  world's  history. 
Before  their  time  true  liberty  was  unknown  in  the  world.  The  name  and 
fame  of  the  "Pilgrims"  will  deservedly  go  down  the  ages  as  the  brightest 
ever  known  to  mankind. 

lULES  STANDISH,  born  about  1586,  and  his  wife  Rose,  came  over  in 
the  Mayflower  in  1620.  His  wife  died  the  next  month,  and  he  himself,  in 
Duxbury,  in  1656.  Tradition  says  that  he  sought  to  marry  Priscilla  Mullens 
for  a  second  wife,  but  was  defeated  in  this  by  his  rival,  John  Alden.  How- 
ever, he  married  Barbara,  who  came  over  in  the  Ann  in  1623,  and  had  Alexan- 
der, Miles,  Josiah,  Charles,  Lorah  and  John. 

ALEXANDER  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and  Priscilla  MiiUena 
Alden,  and  had  Miles,  Ebenezer  (1672);  Lorah,  Lydia,  Mercy,  Sarah,  Eliza- 
beth, Thomas,  Desire,  Ichabod  and  David. 

Descendants  of  both  these  Alden  and  Standish  families  settled  in  Ashfield 
and  have  intermarried  with  the  descendents  of  Bichard  Ellis. 

JOHN  ALDEN,  celebrated  in  the  history  of  the  Plymouth  Colony,  came 
over  in  the  Mayflower  in  1620.  In  1623  he  married  Priscilla  Mullens,  and 
their  children  were  John,  Joseph,  David,  Jonathan,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Ruth, 
and  Mary.  "     ~^ 

He  died  in  Duxbury  in  1687,  and  his  wife  Priscilla  about  1650.  That 
John  Alden  and  Miles  Standish  and  their  families  were  ever  on  pleasant  terms, 
notwithstanding  the  episode  of  which  Longfellow  has  made  them  immortal, 
may  be  presumed  from  the  intermarriage  of  their  chileren,  Alexander  Standish  /\ 
and  Sarah  Alden.  Later  generations  of  these  families  intermarried  with  sev- 
eral of  the  finises  of  Plymouth  and  Barnstable  counties,  and  also  with  V 
descendants  of  Richard  Ellis,  of  Ashtield.     (See  pages  90  and  96. ) 


STORCBS  OF  TH£  BARLY  SETTLEIBS. 

On  one  occasion  a  settler  had  the  misfortune  to  cut  his  foot  badly.  His 
wife  was  alone  with  him,  and  it  was  not  prudent  to  leave  him  to  seek  the 
assistance  of  neighbors,  but  her  ingenuity  was  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  help 
soon  arrived.  The  ingenious  expedient  she  adopted  was  to  tie  some  bloody 
cloths  around  the  neck  of  their  horse  and  start  him  on  the  trail  towards  the 
nearest  neighbor.  The  animal  speedily  went  through  to  where  he  was  well 
known.  The  gory  emblem  told  the  story  of  distress,  and  no  time  was  lost  in 
rendering  the  desired  aid. 

A  settler,  hearing  his  cowbeU  ring  in  a  peculiar  manner,  suspected  the 
presence  of  Indians.  The  bell  would  be  rung  violently  for  a  few  strokes  and 
then  all  would  be  still.     The  settler  took  his  gun,  and  by  going  out  in  a  circu- 


A 


302 

ttoas  route  he  discovt^red  an  Indian  watching  in  the  direction  of  his  home.  As 
a  matter  of  course,  the  settler  got  the  tirdt  shot.  The  Indian  escaped,  but 
left  a  trail  of  blood  for  some  distance,  whence  it  was  supposed  he  was  helped 
away  by  his  companions,  as  it  was  known  that  the  Indians  had  a  great  dread 
of  their  dead  falling  into  the  hands  of  enemies. 


OLD  ROAD  TO  HUNTSTOW^N. 

Mr.  F.  G.  Howes  has  copied  from  the  records  of  Old  Hampshire  County 
the  minutes  of  a  road  to  Huntstown  which  reads  thus:  "  Road  to  Huntstown 
laid  out  in  1754.  We  met  at  Deerfield,  began  at  the  east  path,  south  from 
the  top  of  Long  Hill,  which  leadeth  out  to  the  old  sawmill,  and  in  said  path 
until  it  comes  to  the  path  turning  out  northerly,  commonly  called  Huntstown 
road,  and  on  said  road  as  it  was  marked  by  the  town  of  Huntstown,  and'now 
commonly  traveled,  until  it  comes  unto  the  west  side  of  Deerfield  bounds,  and 
from  thence  in  the  northern  road  unto  Thomas  Phillips'  house  in  Huntstown, 
and  from  thence  as  the  road  now  goes  to  the  west  side  of  said  Phillips'  lot, 
and  from  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  Richard  Ellis'  new  house,  from  thence  as 
the  path  now  goes  unto  Meeting-House  Hill  [Bellows  Hill],  unto  a  beech  tree 
with  stones  around  it,  near  Heber's  fence,  the  whole  road  to  be  ten  rods  wide." 


LAND  SOLD  BY  RICHARD  ELLIS,  1751. 

No.  1 . — Warranty  deed  by  which  Richard  Ellis  conveyed  fifty  acres  of  land 
in  Ashfield  to  his  eldest  son,  Reuben,  in  1751.  The  same  being  the  56th  lot 
or  "Right." 

Know  all  men  by  these  Presents,  that  I,  Richard  EUis,  of  Hunts  Town, 
so  Call'd,  in  ye  County  of  Hampshire,  in  his  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  in  New  England,  for  and  in  consideration  of  Twenty  pounds 
Lawful  money,  To  me  in  hand  before  Sealing  and  Delivering  hereof,  well  and 
truly  Paid  by  Reuben  Ellis  of  Sunderland  in  ye  County  and  Province  afore- 
said, the  Rec't  w'rof  I  do  hereby  acknowledge.  Have  Given,  Granted,  Bar- 
gained, Sold  and  Confirmed,  and  by  these  Presents  Do  Give,  Grant,  Bargain, 
Sell,  make  over  and  Confirm  unto  him  the  s'd  Reuben  Elli<»,  his  Heirs  and 
Assigns,  A  Certain  Lot  of  Land  Lying  and  Being  in  ye  Township  of  Hunts 
Town  Afore  S'd,  and  is  the  fifty-sixth  Lot  in  Number  known  by  the  name  of 
fifty  acre  Rights:  To  Have  and  To  Hold  the  s'd  Grante  I  and  Bargained  prem- 
ises with  the  Privileges  and  Appurtenances  Including,  but  Half  of  the  after 
Draughts  belonging  or  may  hereafter  be  drawn  upon  S'd  Lot  and  No  more: 
and  he  the  S'd  Reuben  Ellis  Doth  by  these  Presents  Promise  to  pay  to  his 
Brethren  when  they  come  of  age  the  Sum  of  Thirteen  pound  Six  Sbillings  and 
Eight  pence  of  Lawful  money  in  Dollars*  at  Six  Shillings  apiece:  and  I  the 
said  Richard  EUis,  for  my  Self,  my  Heirs,  Executors  and  Administrators,  Do 
hereby  Promise  and  Covenant  all  and  Every  the  S'd  Granted  and  Bargained 

«The  Dollar  was  originaUjr  a  Oerman  coin,  which  ia  said  to  have  been  first  coined  at  a 
town  called  Dale. 


303 

premises  unto  him  ye  S'd  Reuben  Ellis  his  Heirs,  Executors  and  Administra- 
tors Against  the  Lawful  Claims  and  Demands  of  any  Person  or  Persons  What- 
soever for  Ever  hereafter  to  Warrant  and  Defend. 

In  Witness  W'r  of— I  the  S'd  Richard  Ellis  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 
and  affixed  my  Seal  this  Twenty-tifth  Day  of  Decem'r,  Anno  Dom.  17.51,  and 
in  ye  Twenty-fourth  year  of  the  Reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Sec- 
ond of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the  faith,  &c. 

RICHARD  ELLIS,     [seal.] 
Signed,  Sealed  and  Delivered 
in  Presence  of  us, 
Isaac  Hubbard, 
•Simeon  Scott. 
Hamp.shire,  ss.,  April  ye  "27,  17G2.     Taen   Richard  Ellis  appeared  and 
acknowledged  the  above  Instrument  to  be  his  free  act  and  deed. 

ELIJAH  WILLIAMS, 

Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Hampsh'r,  ss. 

Springfield,  May  14,  17(55. 
Rec'd  and  Recorded  in  Libr.  6,  folio  3.  and  Examin'd, 

Per  EDW'D  PYNCHON,  Regr. 


LAND  BOUGHT  BY  RICHARD  ELLIS,  1T53. 

No.  2. — To  All  People  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come,  Greeting: 
Know  ye  that  I  Joseph  Melton  of  Hull  in  the  County  of  SuflFolk  in  Xew  Eng- 
land, yeoman,  For  and  in  Consideration  of  the  sum  of  five  pounds  to  him 
in  hand  before  the  ensealing  hereof,  well  and  truly  paid  by  Richard  Ellis 
of  Huntstown  in  ye  County  of  Hamjjshire  and  Province  of  ye  Massachusetts 
Bay  in  New  England,  yeoman,  the  receipt  whereof  I  do  hereby  acknowledge 
and  myself  therewith  fully  satisfied  and  contented,  and  thereof  and  of  every 
part  and  parcel  thereof,  have  given,  granted,  sold,  conveyed  and  confirmed 
unto  him  the  said  Richard  Ellis,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  one  single  lot 
of  land,  excluding  all  other  lands,  lying  and  being  in  the  Township  of  Hunts- 
town  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
aforesaid,  being  Number  Seven  containing  fifty  acres  be  it  more  or  less,  it 
being  a  house  lot  and  no  other  lands  or  Rights  but  that  only.  *  *  *  In 
witness  hereof  I  now  set  my  hand  and  seal  ye  first  day  of  March  in  the  year 
1753  and  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  his  Majesty's  Reign  George  the  Second. 

JOSEPH  MELTON. 

Caleb  Loring, 

Joseph  Melton,  Jr., 

Witnesses. 

No.  3.— December  6th,  1782,  Reuben  Ellis  deeded  to  John  Ellis  50  acres, 
being  the  north  half  of  lot  No.  5.3,  in  the  third  division  of  house  lot  No.  9. 

No.  4. — October  27th,  1790,  Nathaniel  Beale,  of  Braintree,  sold  to  John 
Ellis  and  Edward  Annable,  lot  No.  12,  in  the  second  division,  containing  100 

*Thi8  Simeon  Scott  was  probably  Reuben  Ellis'  brother-in-law. 


A 


3°4 

acres  by  estimate,  bounded  south  by  (ieorge  Raoney,  northerly  by  Seth  Waite 
and  John  Sherwin.     Consideration,  200  pounds. 

No.  5.— January  25th,  1798,  Barnabas  A  unable  sold  to  John  Ellis  about 
seven  acres  of  Land,  being  a  part  of  lots  Nos.  12  and  13,  lying  on  the  north 
side  of  highway,  by  which  it  is  bounded,  the  north  sjde  of  the  same  piece  of 
land  is  the  land  of  Philip  Phillips  and  John  Ellis'  bounds,  excepting  the 
dwelling-house  now  on  it,  which  I  engage  to  move  ofiF.     Consideration,  .^200. 

April  23d,  1763,  Nathaniel  Gunn,  and  Hannah  Gunn,  his  wife,  sold  to 
John  Ellis  fifty  acres.  [This  was  probably  the  old  Ellis  homestead,  where  John, 
Jr.,  Edward  and  Dimick  were  born.] 


i- 


REVOLUTIONARY  INCIDENTS. 

The  following  are  extracts  from  a  pamphlet  entitled  "  Historical  Sketches 
of  the  Times  and  Men  in  Ashfield,  Mass.,  during  the  Ilevolutionary  War;" 
by  Barnabas  Howes,  Esq.* 

"  The  year  1777  was  a  peculiarly  dark  and  trying  one  to  that  part  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Ashfield  who  were  patriotic.  Prominent  men  did  not  disguise 
their  sympathy  with  the  British  government,  and  the  year  before  three  men — 
soldiers  from  Ashtield—  had  fallen  in  the  Battle  of  Long  Island.  The  armies 
of  Howe  and  Burgoyne  were  driving  the  Americans  before  them  at  almost 
every  point.  It  is  therefore  an  interesting  inquiry:  What  did  our  fathers  do? 
The  historical  account  which  has  come  to  us  gives  the  answer.  They  put 
forth  vigorous  eflforts  and  oflFered  earnest  prayer  to  the  God  of  Heaven  for 
providential  aid.  I  have  often  heard  how,  when  a  messenger  came,  on  the 
16th  of  August,  to  call  for  soldiers  from  that  town  he  found  men  at  the  old 
meeting-house  with  their  guns,  ready  to  go  promptly  on  to  the  army. 

Mr.  Stocking  had  nine  men  to  guard  in  his  house  because  of  their  Tory 
sympathy.  Not  only  soldiers  went  on;  their  minister  went  as  chaplain.  The 
Rev.  Nehemiah  Porter  left  Ashfield  soon  after  August  16th,  and  did  not  return 
until  after  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  His  serving  as  chaplain  in  Gen.  Gates' 
army  is  the  great  historical  event  of  Ashfield.  He  was  at  the  front  at  Saratoga, 
Fort  Stanwix  and  Bennington. 

Mr.  Porter,  in  the  darkest  hours  of  oar  country,  when  men's  hearts  were 
failing  them  for  fear,  and  when  five  Congregational  clergymen  in  what  is  now 
Franklin  county  were  Tories,  went  on  to  serve  as  chaplain  in  Gates'  army. 
And,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  no  other  clergymen  of  any  denomhiation  offered 
to  serve  in  that  capacity  in  his  army.  The  men  of  Ashtield  were  fully  im- 
pressed with  the  doctrine  that  "  all  men  were  created  free  and  equal."  1  have 
what  I  deem  reliable  information  that  the  Rev.  Jacob  Sherwin,  the  Congrega- 
tional minister  in  our  town,  owned  a  slave,  and  for  his  treatment  of  her  he 
was  dismissed  from  the  ministerial  office. 

Of  the  other  years,  and  of  the  other  men  who  served  in  the  Revolutionary 
war  from  our  town,  my  space  will  require  me  to  be  brief  and  only  relate  the 
most  interesting  incidents.     Their  names  were: 


♦A  work  of  22  pages,  published  in  1883;  price  twenty-fiye  cents.    Addreu  the  author , 
AsbHeld,  Mass. 


30S 

Moses  Smith,  St.,  killed;  Moses  Smith,  Jr.,  killed;  Cornelius  Warren, 
killed;  Timothy  Perkins,  Jonathan  Taylor,  Jr.,  Zachariah  Howes,  Elisha  Par- 
ker, John  Ward,  Samuel  Guilford,  Joseph  Bishoj),  Samuel  Burton,  Jonathan 
Lyon,  lost  an  arm;  Elder  Enos  Smith  (youngest  son  of  Chileab  Smith,  Sr.), 
Jonathan  Lilly,  Spencer  Phillips  [see  page  112],  Sylvester  Phillips,  Timo- 
thy Warren,  Bethuel  Tjilly,  Caleb  Ward,  Lieut.  Edward  Annable  [see  page  92]-  , 
John  Belding  [father  of  Tiberias  Belding,  page  IGD],  John  Alden,  died;  Joel  /^ 
Cranston,  died;  Ebenezer  Cranston,  died;  Henry  Rogers,  died;  Josiah  Fuller, 
Capt.  Asa  Cranston,  Dea.  John  Bement,  Phineas  Bement,  Robert  Gray. 

[To  these  may  be  added  the  names  of  Lieut.  John  Ellis  (15),  David  Ellis, 
Sr.  (32),  Richard  Ellis  (29),  Benjamin  Ellis  (22),  and  probably  others.] 

Twelve  young  men  who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  settled  in  Ash- 
field,  before  it  closed  or  soon  after.     Their  names  were  as  follows: 

Lot  Bassett,  Stephen  Warren,  Solomon  Hill,  Caleb  Church,  Joseph  Gur- 
ney^  Laban  Stetson,  Caleb  Packard,  Ezekiel  Taylor,  David  Vincent,  Jonathan 
Sears,  Calvin  Maynard,  Timothy  Catlin,  Zebina  Leonard,  Benjamin  Shaw. 

[Mr.  Howes  here  follows  with  a  short  sketch  of  each  of  the  above.] 


ASHFIELD  MOUNTAIN. 

"  There  are  many  rare  sights  among  the  Green  Mountains,  one  of  which  is 
Peter's  Hill,  the  highest  point  on  Ashfield  Mountain.  From  this  point  an 
extensive  view  can  be  had,  looking  over  into  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire, 
as  well  as  a  large  extent  of  Massachusetts.  The  top  of  the  mountain  is  a  level 
plain  for  some  distance.  Old  Peter  had  a  lot  of  land  and  a  home  there,  which 
gave  the  mountain  its  name.  It  is  said  that  Peter  was  captured  by  slave 
traders  in  Africa,  when  he  was  a  boy,  and  brought  to  New  England.  He  w* 
said  to  have  been  owned  by  Dr.  Bartlett's  father,  and  Dr.  Bartlett  called  him 
a  brother  and  said  he  seemed  like  a  brother.  He  was  liberated  during  the 
Revolution,  and  lived  and  died  in  peace,  on  the  mountain  which  derived  its 
name  from  him." 

In  18S7  Mr.  Barnabas  Howes  published  another  work,  of  20  pages,  enti- 
tled "  History  of  the  Town  of  Ashfield;"  same  price  as  above — 25  cents.  The 
following  is  copied  from  Mr.  Howes'  pamphlet: 


X 


Ashfield,  May  14th,  1777. 
Received   of  the  Selectmen  of  Ashfield,   for  mileages  from   Ashfield  to 
Ticonderoga,  the  sum  of  twenty-six  shillings  and  eight  pence  per  man:    \y^  i  ti*.  |r-t  Ct*A*-t#\  j 
Lieut.  John  Ellis  [see  page  76],  Ezekiel  Taylor,  Zebulon  Bryant, 
Eliphalet  Lindsay,  Stephen  Graves,  Stephen  Cross,  Elisha 
Smith,  Asa  Wait,  Daniel  Mill^,  Barnabas  Alden,  Sr.,  Jasper 
Taylor,   Abner    Kelley,   Elisha    Howes,   Zachariah    Howes, 
Johnson    Pelton,   Bezar   Benton,   Nathan   Cook,   Preserved 
Smith  [see  page  90,]  Lamrock  Flower,  [father  of  Mrs.  David] 
Ellis,  Jr.— see  page  154],  Jltiry^'^J  pklUifii  Jt^  ~ 
On  August  16th,  the  same  year,  five  more  men  left  Ashfield  for  the  army, 
then  at  Saratoga— Dea.  Jonathan  Taylor;  his  son,  Henry  Taylor;  Joseph  War- 
ren, Nathan  Chapin  and  Elisha  Parker. " 


/      Jt^^x.ul     -///'W^^-^^^ 


/ 


I 


306 

i:.ATER  TEAKS  OF  RICHARD  ELLIS'  LIFE. 

About  the  close  of  the  Revolution  Richard  Ellis  returned  from  Colerain  to 
Ashfield,  where  he  lived  the  balance  of  his  days,  with  his  son,  Lieut.  John 
Ellis,  and  his  grandchildren.  The  latter  consisted  of  Richard  and  David  Ellis 
{sons  of  Reuben),  and  Jemima  Smith  Annable,  wife  of  Lieut.  Edward  Annable. 
Jemima  was  a  daut^hter  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Smith  and  his  wife,  Remember  Ellis 
(Richard's  daughter.     See  page  71). 

It  is  probable  that  Richard's  ashery  and  mercantile  business  in  Colerain 
had  not  proven  a  success;  at  least,  not  sufficient  to  have  given  him  a  compe- 
tency ,for  the  remaining  years  of  his  life.  The  disorder  and  instability  of  all 
business  pursuits,  consequent  upon  the  prolonged  war  for  independence,  would 
account  for  this.  Hence  his  return  to  his  children  and  grandchildren  in  Ash- 
field, to  pass  his  remaining  years  in  quietude  with  them. 

It  is  apparent  that  they  formed  an  agreement  among  themselves  to  pro- 
vide for  him  a  home,  and  at  the  same  time  leave  him  in  perfect  freedom  to 
pass  his  time  among  them  or  others,  and  come  and  go  at  his  pleasure.  Ac- 
cording to  this  agreement  each  one  rendered  his  account  at  stated  times  and 
was  allowed  by  the  others  due  compensation  therefor.  The3'  associated 
together  under  the  name  of  "The  Brethren,"  evidence  of  which  is  found 
among  their  accounts  of  the  time,  one  of  which  is  as  follows: 

£       a.     d. 
July  ye  6,  1790.     The  Brethren  Dr.  to  keeping  Father  Ellis  four 

weeks *1  :     4  :  0 

Oct.        2,       "       To  4  weeks' and  2  days' keeping *1  :     5:6 

Feb.      26,  1791.     "  8  weeks' keeping  by  Edward  Annable 2  :     8:0 

Aug.     10,     "         "8     "  " *2  :     8:0 

Jtan.       2,1792.      '•8     "  "  by  David  Ellis 2:     8:0 

Jan.      27,      "         "8     "        board *2  :     8:0 

Oct.      13,     "         "8     "  "     by  Richard  EUis 1:16:0 

Apr.       3,1793.     "8     "  " ♦2:     8:0 

Sept.    25,      *'         "8     "  "     by  Richard  Ellis 

Mar.       5,  1794.     "  8     '*  "     by  David  Ellis 

"  Squire  Phillips,  for  charges fO  :  12  :  0 


EARLY  RESIDENTS  OF  COLERAIN. 

Names  of  persons  in  Colerain,  Mass.,  and  adjoining  towns,  with  whom 
Richard  Ellis  transacted  business  from  1764  up  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  as 
taken  from  his  journal  or  ledger: 

Colerain,  Mass. :  William  Sever,  Nathan  Smith,  Samuel  Ayres,  John  Hul- 
burt,  Charles  Stewart,  James  Stewart,  Samuel  Stewart,  Alexander  Harroun, 
Thomas  McCree,  George  Clark,  Archibald  Lawson,  Daniel  Donnelson,  Sarah 
Fulton,  Robert  Fulton,  James  Lukes,  Ann  McCreles,  John  Harroun,  Joseph 


'These  charges  were  evidently  for  times  when  Richard  was  at  his  son's,  John 
Ellis. 

t  This  was  a  charge  for  something  which  Squire  Phillips  had  done  for  Richard.  .Squire 
Phillips  (Lieut.  Philip  Phillips)  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Phillips,  Sr.,  the  second  settler  in  Ash- 
field, and  was  a  nephew  of  Richard's  wife,  Jane  Phillips  Ellis. 


307 

McClures,  John  Anderson,  Curtis  Clements,  Nathan  Oaks,  Robert  Willson, 
Hannah  Murdock,  James  Wallace,  John  Sennate,  Joseph  Bell,  Silas  "White, 
John  Clark,  Benjamin  Henry,  Mary  McGlaughlen,  James  Kennady,  Hezekiah 
Smith,  Thomas  Fox,  Elizabeth  Newman,  Evan  Evans  (Hugh  Smith,  of  Palmer, 
engaged  to  pay  this  account,  before  Wm.  Stewart,,  of  Colerain),  John  Stewart, 
James  Harknesa,  Abram  Pennell,  William  ^McCreles  the  2nd,  John  Cochran, 
Jr.,  Dea.  Cochran,  Hugh  Riddle,  Thomas  Morris,  James  Clark,  Jr.,  William 
Wilson,  John  Mills,  John  Moore,  Abner  Newton,  John  Bolton,  Robert  Riddle, 
1st,  Robert  Riddle,  2nd,  Tennet  Stewart,  Andrew  Lukes,  William  McCreles, 
1st,  Jonathan  Wilson,  Lydia  Stewart,  Deacon  Riddle,  Robert  Pennell,  Jacob 
Maquaid,  Joseph  Thompson,  Hugh  McClallen,  Samuel  Morrison,  Alexander 
Thompson,  John  Morrison,  John  Stewart,  2nd,  William  Stewart  the  1st,  Wil- 
liam Clark  the  Ist,  Joseph  McKown,  John  Workman,  Hugh  Bolton,  Jr., 
Isaac  Orr,  Benjamin  Mun,  Thomas  Anderson,  Joseph  Stewart,  Nancy  Wallace, 
John  Wallace,  Abraham  Peck,  Nathaniel  Cornwell,  Capt.  Hugh  Morrison, 
Samuel  Stewart  the  Ist,  William  Clark  the  2nd  (son  of  Alexander  Clark,  of 
Colerain;,  Joseph  McCluer,  William  Henry,  Robert  Cochran,  Widow  Sarah 
McCreles,  John  Sennate,  John  McCreels,  Samuel  Willson,  James  Clark,  David 
Harroun  [Charles  S.  D.  Harroun,  Esq.,  of  Greenville,  Mich.,  is  a  descendant 
of  the  Colerain  Harrouns],  Elisha  Smalley,  Robert  Crosier,  Ebenezer  Fisk, 
Caleb  Allen,  Catharine  Mills,  Eunice  Harroun,  David  Rich,  Elisha  Prat,  Mat- 
thew Bolton,  Martha  Lukes,  John  Thompson,  James  Thompson,  Thomas  Cro- 
foot,  John  May  waters,  Stephen  Tones,  David  Smead,  Abraham  Shin,  Nathan 
Davis,  Nathan  Williams,  William  Gait,  James  Bell,  James  Carr,  Silas  Her- 
rington,  Hugh  McGUl,  David  Mores,  John  Rugg,  Robert  Miller,  Daniel  Brace, 
Daniel  Crace,  William  Stewart,  Watson  Freeman,  Thomas  Fox,  Samuel  Fiak, 
Thomas  Mores. 

Greenfield,  Mass. ;  Samuel  Hinsdale,  Daniel  Nash,  Matthew  Severance, 
Amos  Allen,  Matthew  Clark,  Ezekiel  Brown. 

Halifax,  Vt.  :  John  Crosier,  Samuel  Clark,  William  Henderson,  Robort 
Pattison,  Jeremiah  Reed,  Abner  Rich,  Dea.  John  Pennell,  David  Bartlett,  Sol- 
omon Bartlett,  James  Hamilton,  John  Clark,  James  Taylor. 

Deerfield,  Mass.  :  John  Henry,  Samuel  Hunter,  Alexander  Clark. 


•  CURRENCY  AND  PRICES  OF  COIiONIAL  TIMES. 

Specimens  of  accounts  taken  from  Richard  Ellis'  ledger  while  he  kept  a 
country  store  in  Colerain.  That  the  currency  of  those  times  was  greatly 
depreciated  is  apparent  from  the  high  prices  of  all  commodities. 

*  In  1743  Masaachusetts  proposed  to  the  other  New  England  colonies  to  appoint  commia- 
sioners  to  agree  on  joint  action  for  doing  away  with  colonial  bills.  They  refused  to  do  so. 
Money  was  now  scarce  as  ever  again,  the  better  kinds  being  hoarded,  and  only  the  worst 
paper  of  all  the  colonies  circulating  in  any.  The  Goyernor  of  Massachusetts,  in  1744,  said 
that  of  £^00,000  Khode  Island  bills  in  circulation  £380,000  were  in  Massacuusetts.  The  peo- 
ple of  the  latter  colony  had  lost  £25,000  on  this  sum  in  nine  months.  Tne  Governor  now 
took  it  into  his  head  to  capture  Louisbourg,  on  Cape  Breton,  from  the  French,  and  the  New 
England  colonies  joined  in  the  enterprise,  issuing  bills  as  they  were  needed  to  prepare  for 
the  expedition.  The  paper  issues  of  Massachusetts  alone  amounted  to  £2,466,712.  Louis- 
bourg was  captured  and  Parliament  yoted  to  ransom  it  from  the  colonies.    The  sum  comiof 


X 


/ 


308 

Amos  Allen,  of  Gkeenfield, 
1765.  To  Richard  Ellis,  Dr. 

Jan.    24.  To  1  axe £2  128.  6d. 

"  1,000  of  pins 0  14     0 

August,    1 767.     Credit  by  2  bushels  of  lime £\  68.  Od. 

"  •'  "     by  cash 20     6 

James  Stewart  Dr. 

1765.  £      ».    d. 

Jan.                        Tojlb.tea 0:18:0 

April.                      "Ibroadhoe 1:13:9 

"                          "  8  jacket  buttons  and  1  thimble 0  :     5:0 

Aug.                         ' '  1  cake  of  soap 0:     6:6 

Oct.                          ' '  4  ounces  of  tea 0:16:3 

Nov.                         "  10  jack  knife 0:     6:6 

"  "  101  gals,  and  1  quart  of  rum,  at  20s  per  gal.  fOl   :     5:0 

Credits.  £  «.     d. 

Feb.           1765.     By  3  days  posting  books 2  :  12  :  6 

"     26,                  "     3  bushels  of  ashes 0  :  13  ;  6 

April   2,                  "     1  day  posting  books 0  :  15  :  0 

Sept.                        "    2  lbs.  butter 2:  0:0 

Dec.                        "    4  bushels  of  ashes 0  :  18  :  0 

Silas  White*  Dr. 

1765.  £       8.     d. 

May.  To  1  spelling  book 0  :   10  :  0 

"  "1  ivory  comb 0:     9:0 

"  "  1  horn  comb 0:     3:9 

"  "  1  paper  of  pins 0:     7:0 

to  Massachusetts  was  £188,649  sterling,  and  at  the  request  of  the  colonf  this  was  shipped  in 
silTer  dollars  and  copper  coins.  With  this  hard  money  the  inflated  paper  currency  of  the 
colony  was  canceled  at  the  rate  of  one  pound  of  the  former  to  eleven  pounds  of  the  latter — 
apparently  the  ruling  exchange  at  that  daie.  The  silver  remained  in  circulation  for  several 
years  and  trade  revived  steadily  and  rapidly.  [Cape  Breton,  mentioned  ai  ove,  is  an  Island 
between  Nova  Scotia  and  Newfoundland.] 

In  1751  Parliament  forbade  any  more  legal  tender  paper  issues,  and  allowed  no  issue 
save  in  the  form  of  exchequer  bills  redeemable  by  taxes  in  a  year,  l>earing  interest ;  or,  in 
case  of  war,  similar  issues  redeemable  in  four  years.  The  colonies  set  about  retiring  their 
old  issues,  but  the  war  with  France  in  1756  involved  them  again  in  war  expenses,  and  large 
amounts  of  bills  of  small  denominations  were  issued.  In  1762  gold  was  made  a  legal  tender 
by  weight  at  the  rate  of  two  and  a  half  pence  per  grain.  At  this  rate  it  was  more  profitable 
to  pay  in  gold  than  in  silver,  and  the  latter  was  soon  driven  out  of  circulation,  while  paper 
money  was  depreciated  five  per  cent.  In  1767  the  agitation  was  renewed  for  a  new  issue  of 
paper  money.  The  paper  currency  of  Vermont  appears  to  have  been  much  more  depreciated 
than  that  of  Massachusetts,  and  this  must  have  had  its  effect  on  prices  in  towns  near  the 
border.  The  colonial  money  was  of  all  denominations.  We  have  before  us  a  bill  issued  at 
Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1777.  Its  face  value  is  fourpence,  and  it  is  about  four  times  as  large  as 
a  postage  stamp.  At  the  time  of  its  issue  the  paper  of  Connecticut  was  inflated  after  the 
manner  of  the  later  Confederate  scrip,  worth,  perhaps,  ten  per  cent,  in  gold.  At  this  rate  it 
would  take  about  thirty  of  these  Hartford  bills  to  pay  for  a  dozen  of  eggs.  Like  th<>  late 
Confederate,  the  old  Connecticut  patriot  might  carry  his  money  to  the  store  in  a  basket  and 
carry  his  eggs  home  in  his  pocket. — [Fyom  Prof.  Sumner''t  "Hislor;/  of  American  Currency." 

*It  is  probable  that  Silas  White  was  a  shoemaker,  as  among  his  credits,  Feb.,  1767,  is 
"  one  pair  of  shoes,"  and  "mending  a  pair  of  shoes." 


309 

£  s.     d. 

Nov.                    To  1  quart  of  rum 0:  6:6 

Oct.  1766.       "  2  quarts  of  rum 0  :  14  :  0 

"                         "  1  bushel  of  salt 2:  8.0 

March,  1769.       "  Caleb  going  to  Greenfield 0:  7:6 

•'                         "  Caleb  driving  plow 0:  7:6 

"                         "  My  cattle  going  to  Sunderland 2  :  0:0 

[This  account  was  not  settled'until  the  following  date;]  "  1785,  Jan.  ye  10. 
Then  reckoned  with  Silas  White  and  balanced  accounts  from  the  beginning  of 
the  world  to  this  day,  as  witness  my  hand. — Richard  Ellis." 

EuNioK  Harboun  Dr. 

1765.  £      8.    d. 

Jan.  .    To  4  china  plates 1   :  14  :  6 

Credit. 
June,  1765.     By  sugar ..    1:8:6 

John  Wallace  Dr. 

1764.  £  8.  d. 
Dec.              To  1  paper  of  pins 0  :     7   :  6 

"  "1  pair  of  shears 0  :     7   :6 

April.  "  1  cake  of  soap 0  :     6:6 

Nov.  "  1  axe 2  :  12  :  6 

Apr.  1769.  "  3  days,  Caleb  and  oxen 3:     0:0 

William  Clark,  the  First,  Dr. 

1765.  £      8.     d. 

Jan.  To  1,000  pins 0  :  15  :  0 

July.  "  300naU8* 1  :  13  :  9 

Oct.  "  1  gallon  of  rum 1  :     6:0 

Nov.  1767.     "  stoning  your  well 1  :  10  :  0 

Jan.  1768.      "  Matthew.f  one  day  at  ye  well 0  :  15  :  0 

"  "1  pair  of  garters 0  :     6  :  6 

"  "  cutting  rail  cuts  by  Matthew 0  :  15   :  0 

Hannah  Murdoch  Dr. 

1765.  £      *.     d. 

Feb.  To  china  cup  and  saucer , 0  :  15  :  0 

"  2  ditto 1    :  10  :  0 

"  "  10  yards  of  plaid 10:    0:0 

"  "  S  yard  ribbon 0:     9:0 

Credit. 

1765.  £  «.     d. 

Jan.  20.         By  2  pair  of  stockings 1   :  15  :  0 

'•  5  yards  of  tow  cloth 3  :  15  :  0 

•  Nails  wore  made  by  hand  and  sold  by  the  piece  for  fifty  years  after  this  date, 
t  Kich  ard's  son,  Matthew  Ellis.    See  (13)  page  260. 


3IO 


17M. 


Oot. 


Not. 

Mar.  1766. 
Oct. 


JoHx  Stkwart,  2kd.  Dr. 

£  t.    d. 

To  2  doi.  of  oo»t  buttons 1   :  2  :  6 

"    2  sticka  of  mohair 0:  9:0 

"    lOOihoe  nails  0:  3:9 

"    1  yard  of  ribbon 0  :  12  :  0 

"    2  yards  of  check  cloth 2  :  12  :  6 

"    Ihoe 1   :  12  :  6 

"    2  quarts  rum 0  :  14  :  0 

"    1  scythe 2:  8:0 


1764 


Feb.  1766. 

Oct. 

Jan.  1766. 

May. 

May,  1769. 


Crbdits.  £ 

By  1  broom 0 

"     5  bushels  of  ashes 1 

"     800  of  shingles 3 

"     1200  of  shingles 4 

"     9  bushels  of  ashes 2 

"     1  shad  fish 0 

"     paid  to  Matthew 1 


$. 
4 
2 
4 

12 
0 
1 

15 


d. 

6 
:  6 
:  0 

0 
:  6 
;  6 
:  0 


Alexander  Clark,  of  Deerftbld,  Dr. 

1766.  £      s.    d. 

Feb.  Tolblanket 6:    5:0 

"  "  sundries  for  Margaret  Conkey 2:     1:0 

June.  "  sundries — Day  iook,  page  4 0  :  11   :  3 

•'  "  paid  Isaac  Orr's  order 6  :  12  :  0 

July,  1766.     "  3  lbs.  6  oz.  potash 0:10:0 

"  "  a  cider  barrel... 1   :     5   :0 

*'  "  ^i  bushel  of  salt 1:     3:0 

"  "amistake 0:     1:3 

1766.  Credits.  £      ».     d. 

By  carting  kettles  and  clay 5  :  12      6 

'•  14  bushels  of  ashea 3:     3:0 

July,  1766.     "  carting  potash  to  Hadley t>  :  15  :  0 

"  carting  a  load  to  Cheapside 2  :     5:0 

"  carting  salt  from  Greenfield 1   :  10  :  0 

"  carting  a  barrel  of  rum  from  Deerfield  1    :     0:0 
"  adraftchain 4  :     2:6 


Widow  Sarah  McCrblbs  Dr. 

1764.  £      ».    d. 

Dec.  To  1  pair  of  gloves 0:18:0 

Feb.  1768.       "  learthenpot 0  :  10  :  0 

"  •'  1  punchbowl 0  :  10  :  0 

"  "lawn 2:     1:7 

"  "  taffety  — _  1  :  16  :  9 

Jan.  1766.      "  1  tea  kettle. ._ 3  :  16  :  0 

"  "SOOnails „ 2:     0:0 


3" 

Credits. 

£ 

1765.  By  1  cheese 2 

1766.  "   4  lbs.  butter 0 

"   Hannah  0 

"   8  bnehels  of  ashes 1 


s. 

(/. 

0 

:  0 

16 

:  0 

13 

:  0 

10 

:  0 

FOBM  OF  SPINSTER'S  INDENTURE  IN  17«9. 

This  Indenture  Witnesseth  that  Dinah  Wood  Daughter  of  Simeon  Wood 
of  Ashfield  In  the  County  of  Hampshire  and  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  in  New  England  Husband  Man  Hath  Put  Herself  and  By  These  Presents 
Doth  Voluntary  and  of  Her  Own  free  Will  and  accord  and  With  the  Consent 
of  her  Said  Father  Simeon  Wood  Put  and  Bind  Herself  aprentis  to  Amzi 
Childs  of  Deerfield  in  the  County  aforesaid  Husband  Man  &  To  Submit  His 
Wife  To  Learn  their  art  Trade  or  Mystery  and  With  them  the  s'd  Amzi  and 
Submit  after  the  Maner  of  an  aprentis  To  Serve  from  the  Date  of  these  Pres- 
ents for  and  During  the  Term  of  Eight  Years  Six  Months  Three  Weeks  and 
Thres  Days  from  thence  Next  Ensuing  To  Be  Compleat  and  Ended  During  all 
which  Term  the  s'd  aprentice  Her  Said  Master  and  Mistress  faithfully  Shall 
Serve,  their  Secrets  Keep,  and  Lawfull  Comands  Every  Where  Gladly  Obey. 
She  Shall  Do  No  Damage  To  Her  S'd  Master  or  Mistress  Nor  Suffer  it  to  Be 
Done  of  others  Without  Letting  or  Giving  Notice  thereof  to  Her  Said  Master 
or  Mistress.  She  Shall  Not  Waste  the  Goods  of  her  S'd  Master  or  Mistress 
Nor  Lend  them  Unlawfully  to  Any.  She  Shall  Not  Comit  fornication.  Nor 
Matrimony  Contract  Within  the  S'd  Term.  She  Shall  Not  absent  herself  By 
Day  or  By  Night  from  the  service  of  her  S'd  Master  or  Mistress  Without  their 
Leave,  but  in  all  things  Behave  Herself  as  a  faithful  aprentice  ought  to  Do  To  ■ 
wards  Her  S'd  Master  and  Mistress  During  the  Said  Term. 

And  the  said  Amzi  Childs  for  Himself,  and  Submit  His  Wife,  Doth  Hereby 
Covenant  and  Promiss  to  Teach  and  Instruct,  or  Cause  the  S'd  Aprentis  To  be 
Taught  and  Instructed,  in  the  art  Trade  or  Calling  of  a  Spinster  and  House - 
oldry  By  the  Best  Way  or  Means  She  May  or  Can  of  the  s'd  aprentiae  Capa' 
ble  to  Learn  and  To  find  and  Provide  unto  the  S'd  aprentis  Good  and  Sufficient 
Meet  Drink  Washing  and  Lodging  and  aparreU  Both  in  Sickness  and  Helth 
and  To  Learn  Her  To  Bead  During  the  S'd  Term  and  at  the  Expiration  thereof 
To  Give  Unto  the  S'd  aprentis  Two  Good  Suits  of  aparell  one  for  Sabbath 
Days  and  one  for  Week  Days,  in  Testimony  Whereof  the  Parties  To  these 
Presents  have  Hereunto  interchangeably  Set  their  Hands  and  Seals  the  15th 
Day  of  February  in  the  Ninth  Year  of  the  Reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George 
the  Third  of  Great  Britain  &c  anoghe  Domini  one  thousand  Seven  Hundred 

and  Sixty  Nine. 

Her 
DINAH  X  WOOD. 
Signed  Sealed  and  Delivered  mark 

In  Presence  of  us,  AMZI  CHILDS. 

Sam'l  Childs, 
♦Sam'l  Childs,  2d. 


♦The  handwriting  would  Indicate  that  the  abore  docaiuent,  founcl  among  the  Ellis 
papers,  was  written  by  Samuel  Childs,  2d. 


^ 


-i 


312 

WALES  AND  THE  WELSH  PEOPLE. 

The  British  Islands  were  first  visited  by  the  Phonioian  and  Cartbagenian 
navigators,  where  they  found  tin  in  abundance.  This  was  about  1,000  years 
before  Christ.  Greek  navigators  also  visited  these  Islands  later.  They 
named  the  country  Albion,  from  its  numerous  white  chalk  cliffs.  But  little, 
however,  was  known  of  these  regions  until  the  invasion  by  Julius  Ca-sar,  Em- 
peror of  Bome,  in  the  first  century,  A.  D.  The  Bomans  found  here  a  large 
population  of  brave  and  vigorous  people.*  Caesar  and  his  soldiers  had  many 
battles  with  them  and  finally  subdued,  for  a  time,  most  of  wfaat  is  now  Eng- 
land, except  that  part  which  is  known  as  Wales.  The  Welsh  have  always 
held  a  portion  of  England,  and  they  are  said  to  be  descendents  of  the  original 
Britons.  Wales  is  a  country  in  the  western  part  of  England,  and  is  about  96 
miles  in  width  and  1.35  miles  in  length.  The  Welsh  have  a  written  language 
of  their  own,  and  in  features  and  many  personal  traits  they  differ  from  any 
other  people  of  Europe.  They  have  ever  been  noted  for  their  industry  and 
independence.  But  few  of  them  have  ever  become  Catholics  in  religion.  For 
centuries  they  defied  the  English  Kings  and  maintained  their  independence. 
Through  almost  unceasing  warfare  they  gallantly  defended  their  liberties. 
Their  last  King  was  Llewellyn,  who  was  slain  in  1282  in  a  battle  with  the 
English  under  King  Edward  I.  To  conciliate  the  Welsh  poople,  and  gain  their 
consent  to  union  with  England,  Edward  promised  them  a  native  born  sover- 
eign who  could  speak  no  English.  In  due  time  he  had  their  barons  assemble, 
when  he  presented  them  with  his  own  son,  bom  but  a  few  days  before  in  the 
W'elsh  castle  of  Cornowon.  He  was  named  Edward  Prince  of  Wales.  In  1 .307 
he  became  King  Edward  the  Second  and  reigned  twenty  years.  Ever  since  that 
time  the  eldest  son  of  the  King  or  Queen  of  England  has  been  caUed  Prince  of 
Wales,  and  the  Welsh  people  have  been  a  most  conservative  and  loyal  element 
in  the  kingdom. 


Under  the  following  date  this  note  was  given: 

Jan.  24th,  1783.     Dr.  to  Richard  Ellice,  for  a  pair  of  leather  breeches,  five 
bushels  and  a  half  of  wheat.     Witness  my  hand. 

DAVID   STEWART. 


Also  the  following: 

CoLERAix,  Jan.  24th,  1777,  for  value  received,  I  promise  to  pay  Richard 
Elis  or  order  the  some  of  twenty  Pound  on  demand,  with  intris  till  paid  as 
witnis  my  hand. 

JOHN  NEWELL. 

Calvb  Ellis,  t  witness.  I 

•Some  of  these  people  were  carried  prisoners  to  Rome  where  they  were  called  Angles  by 
their  captors,  but  St.  Gregory  when  he  observed  their  unuiual  beauty  and  symmetry  of 
form  said  they  were  Angel*. 

fSon  of  Richard  Ellis.    See  page  79  (19). 


313 

These  sartifie  that  I,  the  subscriber,  have  reaeved  seven  ew  sheep  from 
Richard  Ellis,  for  which  I  promis  to  pay  five  pounds  and  one  quarter  of  good 
clean  wooll  yerly  and  at  theende  of  three  yeres  return  the  same  number. 

Colerain,  Feb.  ye  20,  1777. 

JOHN  HARROUN. 


UISUT,  JOHN  ELUS,  OF  ASHFIBLD. 

Commission  of  John  Ellis  (son  of  Richard),  of  Ashfield,  as  a  Second  Lieut, 
in  the  Revolutionary  Army: 

Colony  of  the  ) 

Massachusetts  Bay.     ) 

The  Major  Part  of  the  Council  in  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England, 
To  John  AUis*  Oentleman,  Greeting: 

You  being  appointed  Second  Lieutenant  of  the  Sixth  Company,  whereof 
Benjamin  Phillips  is  Captain,  in  the  Fifth  Regiment  of  Militia,  in  the  County 
of  Hampshire,  whereof  David  Field,  Esq. ,  is  Colonel,  By  Virtue  of  the  Power 
vested  in  us,  We  do  by  these  Presents  (reposing  special  Trust  and  Confidence 
in  your  Loyalty,  Courage  and  good  Conduct)  Commission  you  accordingly. 
You  are  therefore  carefully  and  dilligently  to  discharge  the  Duty  of  a  second 
Lieut,  ill  leading,  ordering  and  exercisins;  said  company  in  Arms,  both  inferior 
officers  and  soldiers,  and  to  keep  them  in  good  Order  and  Discipline.  And 
they  are  hereby  commanded  to  obey  you  as  their  second  Lieut,  and  you  are  your- 
self to  observe  and  follow  such  Orders  and  Instructions  as  you  shall  from  time 
to  time  receive  from  the  major  part  of  the  Council  and  your  Superior  Officers. 
Given  under  our  Hands  and  Seal  of  the  said  Colony,  at  Watertown, 

the  Third  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1776. 
By  the  Command  of  the  Major  Part  of  the  Council. 

JOHN  LOWELL,  Dep'y  Seo'y. 
[seal.]      James  Otis,  VV.  Spooner,   Caleb  Cushing,  J.  Winthrop,  B. 
Chadbourn,   T.  Cushing,  John  Whitcomb,  James  Pres- 
cott,   D.  Taylor,  S.  Hatten,  Jabez  Fisher,  B.   White, 
Moses  Gill. 


Lieut.  John  Ellis  was,  a  portion  of  the  time  during  the  Revolution,  on 
duty  in  Ashfield,  where  he  was  assigned  to  service  ordered  by  the  General 
Court,  in  session  in  Boston.     Among  his  papers  is  a  memorandum  as  follows: 
"  Fines  collected  agreeable  to  an  order  of  Court  of  Aug.  15th,  1777:  " 

£ 

Ashel  Amsden 15 

EliColton 15 

Jedediah  Sprague 15 

Lieut.  P.  Phillips 15 

Seth  Waite 15 

Reuben  Ellis ' 15 

•This  name  was  a  clerical  error,  afterwards  corrected. 


314 

£ 

Thomas  Phillips 15 

Joseph  R.  Paine 15 

Ebenezer  Belding 15 

Daniel  Belding 15 

John  Sherwin 15 

Jeremiah  Waite 15 

Moses  Smith 15 

Samuel  Belding 15 

Dea.  Isaac  Shepard 15 

David  Alden 16 

"  Fines  paid  agreeable  to  an  order  of  Conrt  of  June  10th,  1778:  " 

£ 

John  Belding 10 

Oliver  Cook 10 

Samuel  Cranston 10 

Lieut.  Philip  Phillips 10 

Isaac  Shepard 10 

Philip  Matigan 10 

Abner  Phillips 10 

Daniel  Bacon 10 

Abel  Smith 10 

Vespatian  Phillips 10 

Johnson  Pelton 10 

SUasLUly 10 

John  Ames 10 

Samuel  Truesdel  k 10 

Abel  Cook 10 

Josiah  Cook 10 

Samuel  Batcheld«r 10 

Samuel  Belding 10 

Seth  Waite 10 

Jesse  Ekison 10 

"  Fines  paid  agreeable  to  an  order  of  Court  of  June  20th,  1778: " 

£ 

Samuel  Belding 20 

Ebenezer  Belding,  jr 20 

David  Alden,  jr 20 

John  H.  Blackmer 20 

Ashel  Amsden 20 

Chileab  Smith 20 


1 


"  Fines  paid  agreeable  to  an  order  of  Court  June  5th,  1780:  '* 

£ 

Johnson  Pelton 150 

Seth  WaiU 150 


315 

It  is  known  that  some  of  these  men  were  stanch  loyalists,  or  tories  as 
they  were  called,  and  were  opposed  to  the  Revolution  or  revolt  against  the 
King  of  England.  Such  was  the  division  of  sentiment  on  the  subject  of  the 
war  at  that  time  that  many  families  were  divided  among  their  members. 
Many  tory  fathers  had  patriot  sons  who  were  fighting  for  the  independence  of 
the  colonies.  But  in  Aahfield,  as  elsewhere,  there  was  a  strong  Twme  guard, 
who  did  all  they  could  to  encourage  the  soldiers.  At  a  town  meeting  held 
June  10th,  1777,  it  was  voted  "that  Aaron  Lyon  was  a  suitable  person  to  pro- 
cure evidence  against  certain  persons  who  were  regarded  as  enemies  of  the 
American  States." 

About  this  time  Burgoyne,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  British  army  near 
Saratoga,  X.  Y.,  was  expected  to  push  his  way  through  to  join  other  British 
forces  in  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island.  It  was  supposed  that  his  route 
would  be  to  Fort  Massachusetts  (now  North  Adams),  where  he  would  cross  the 
Hoosac  Mountain  over  into  the  towns  of  Heath  and  Buckland,  then  ford  the 
Deerfield  river  and  pass  through  the  north  part  of  Ashfield,  exactly  by  where 
Aaron  Lyon  lived. 

This  made  the  tories  jubilant,  but  Aaron  Lyon  did  his  duty,  and  in  Au- 
gust, 1777,  he,  with  Peter  Cross  and  Dr.  Phineas  Bartlett,  Selectmen  of  the 
town,  brought  in  a  report  ' '  tliat  *  *  *  ought  to  be  brought  to  a  proper 
trial."     (Nine  tories.     Their  names  are  omitted  here.) 


CHABGES  AND  PRICES  OF  EARLT  TIMES  IN  ASHFTEUJ. 

Specimens  of  accounts  taken  from  an  old  account  book  of  Lieut.  John  Ellis, 
of  Ashfield: 

Maj.  Lamrock  Flower,  Sr. 

To  John  Ellis— Dr. 

1774.  £    «.     d. 

Jan.  ye    8.       To  1  bushel  of  rye  and  oats 0  :  2  :  0 

"  CashbyBildad 0:5:0 

Feb.  25.  ' Ebenezer  Belding 0:3:8 

May  10.  "  my  oxen  one  day 0:1   :4 

Nov.  "  my  horse  to  Springfield 0  :5  :4 

1784. 

Mar.  ye  4.  "  1  pint  of  rum 0  :0  :6 

Feb.  24,  1786.     "  i  a  pine  tree 0  :  2  :  6 

Oct.  "  1  barrel 0  :  3  :  0 

Junel2,1788.    "  2  days' work  by  Dim  ick 0:3:0 

/•  "6  days'  work  by  John 0:9:0 

*"     '  *'  2  bushels  of  wheat 0:8:0 

Feb.  28,  1791.     "  1  pound  in  grain  for  Thomas  Phillips 1:0:0 

May  3.  "  my  John  one  day 0:2:6 

Sept.  28.  "  Dimick  one  day 0  :  1   :  6 

'•  "  Edward  one  day 0  :  1  :  6 

Aug.ye20,1792  "  my  horse  to  Conway 0  :  0  :10 

"  my  cart  to  Buckland 0  :  1   :0 

"  my  horse  to  Goshen 0  :  1   :  0 

Dec.  10,  1794.    "  Edward  and  Dimick  one  day 0:4:0 


8. 

d. 

3 

:  0 

4 

:  0 

14 

:  0 

10 

0 

1 

:  0 

316 

Capt.  Lamrook  Flowbk,  Jun.  Dr. 

1799.  £    s.     d. 

Mar.  21.  To  ten  hundred  of  hay 1:0:0 

'«  21b8.  cheese 0  :  0  :10 

8        C.     Ttl. 

May.*  "  a  plow  2  days  and  a  half 0:84:0 

"  "  1  bushel  of  parsnips 0  :  33  :  0 

"  *'  6  lbs.  of  iron 0  :  24  :  0 

Credits.  £    «.     d. 

1774,  May  10.  By  1  day  with  Phineas  and  your  oxen...  0:3:0 

Oct.  29.     "  i  '•       "  '•         "         "       "   __  0  :  1   :  6 

1774.  John  BELDiNot  Dr; 

Jan.  ye  24.    Then  reckoned  and  settled  all  book  accounts. 

Jo9N  Beldino. 
John  Ellis. 
£ 

Apr.  28, 1785.  To  1  bushel  of  com 0 

"  my  horse  to  New  Providence 0 

Mar.  "  my  horse  and  sleigh  to  Springfield 0 

"  my  two  boys  and  one  yoke  of  oxen  and  plow 

two  days 0 

Mar.  6.  1788.     •'  my  sleigh  to  Deerfield 0 

Jan.  ye  6,  1789.     Then  reckoned  all  book  account  and  settled  the  whole. 

John  Beldino. 
Ebenezer  Beldino.  J  Dr. 

1774.  £    «.    d. 

Apr.  25.  To  keeping  of  a  heifer  8  weeks 0-    4:6 

Jwj.  ye  30,  1775.     "      "  "   cow  15     "      0:13:4 

"  5  lbs.  of  cheese 0:    2:4 

Samuel  Beldino  §  Dr. 

1774.  £.  s.  d. 

Sept.  ye  24.        To  2  baskets 0:4:0 

July;30,  1782.     "   cash  paid  Capt.  Flower 0:7:6 

"      6,1786.     "  2  lbs.  of  tobacco 0:1:0 

1782.  Credits.  £  s.  d. 

Nov.  25.  By  making  8  ropes  to  tie  up  cattle 0:2:8 

•'     25.  "  1  bed  rope 0:2:0 

'"     13,1785.       "  making  3  small  ropes 0:3:0 

Dec.  12,  1791.      "  making  one  draw  rope  and  leadipg  line 
and  three  small  ropes 

*0n  and  after  this  date  the  account  was  continued  in  dollars,  cents  and  mills,  which 
were  written  in  the  manner  similar  to  that  of  pounds,  shillings  apdpence. 

tOrandfather  of  Belding  Bros.,  silk  manufacturers. 
^Father  of  Asher  Belding.    See  page  117. 
I  Great  Grandfather  of  Belding  Brothers. 


3i7 

DoCT.  Moses  Hayden  Dr. 

1773.  £    s.  d. 

Dec.  ye  15.         To  8  hundred  of  hay •. 0:    8:0 

Jan.  20,  1774.       "cash 0:    3:0 

Mar.  18.  "  keeping  your  horse  14  days :  0  :    4  :  0 

June  21.  "  16  hundred  of  hay 0:16:0 

Conway,  Aug.  ye  6th,  1774.     Then  reckoned  and  balanced  all  acct.  with 
Doct.  Moses  Hayden,  as  witness  our  hands. 

Moses  Hatden. 

Door.  Phinkas  Bartlbt  Dr. 

1773.  £    s.  d. 
Jan.  ye  3.        To  sleding  two  loads  of  boards  from  Abner  Phillips' 

mill 0:    3:4 

*'  "  sleding  one  load  from  my  mill 0:    1:6 

Feb.  1774.  "   4  lbs.  butter ......0:    2:0 

Jan.    1775.  "    six  hundred  of  hay 0:    8:0 

Oct.   1777.  "    13  lbs.  of  pork 0:    6:9 

Nov.  1779.  "   i  bushel  of  salt 0  :  10  :  0 

June  6,  J  785.     "   one  quart  of  rum   0  :     1  :0 

Sept.  4,  1788.    "   24  lbs.  of  flour 0:3    :0 

Mar.  24,  1792.    Then  reckoned  and  settled  all  book  acct.  with  Lieut.  John 
Ellis  in  full. 

Phineas  Bartlet. 
[Dr.  Bartlet  was  a  physician  in  Ashfield  forty  years.] 

Aaron  Lyon  Dk. 

1774.  £  8.  d. 

Nov.  ye  23.  To  keeping  a  colt  3  weeks 0:1:6 

Aug.  ye  19,  1776.     "  my  horse  to  Charlemont 0  :  1  :  2 

Aug.  ye  10,  1785.     "  1^  gallons  of  rum 0:6:0 

Credit. 

Dec.  8,  1786.         By  1  bushel  and  10  quarts  of  wheat 0:5:6 

June  ye  20,  1785.     Then  reckoned  all  book  acct.  with  Mr.  Lyon  and  found  due 
to  him  six  pence.  Aaron  Lyon. 

John  Ellis. 

KiMBEL  HowBS  Dr. 

1776.  .  £  «.  d. 

JulyyelS.         To  cash 0:0:6 

Jan.  21,  1777.       "  8  bushels  of  corn 1:4:6 

Credit. 

£    8.  d. 

July,  1776.         By  8  days'  work 1:4:0 

"cash 0:0:6 

Jan  21,  1777.     Then  reckoned  and  balanced  all  book  acct.  between  Kimbel 
Howes  and  John  Ellis,  as  witness  our  hands. 
,  KiMBEL  Howes. 


3x8 

Samukl  Lincoln  Dr. 

1789.  £     ».  d. 

Sept.  4.  To  1  bushel  of  wheat 0:    4:6 

"  one  half  a  side  of  leather 0  :  12  :  3 

Apr.  1791.  "  Edward  two  days' work 0:    4:0 

"  Dimick  one      "         "      0:    1:9 

Oct.  "  Dimick  and  the  oxen  1  day 0:    3:0 

"     1794.  '*  my  horse  to  Hardwick* 0:    6:8 

Credit. 

£      8.  d. 

Aug.  1791.       By  weaving  29  yards  of  cloth 0:14:9 

Feb.  1793.  "weaving 3:10:1 

Apr.  "  weaving  a  coverlid 0:    7:6 

Apr.  1793.       Then  reckoned  and  settled  all  accounts,  as  witness  our  hands. 

Sahdkl  Lincoln. 

GlORQE  RANNBYt  D»- 

1786.  £    «.    d. 

May  26.  To  1  quart  of  old  rum 0:1:    6 

"2      "     "     "     '•    0:1:11 

Crbdit. 

1785.  £     «.    d. 
May  29,            By  cash 0:1:    6 

"    flax 0  :  1  :  11 

LicuT.  Edward  Annablx  Dr. 

1786.  £     ».     d. 
Mar,  ye  12.      To  1  quart  of  old  rum 0:    1:    6 

"  more  for  rum 0  :    1  :    4 

"  1  barrel  of  cider 0  :  11  :    0 

"  cash  lent  your  father 0  :    3  :  10 

Feb.  20,  1786.    "  38  feet  of  pine  boards 0:    1:    3 

Deo.  27,  1790.    "  3  bushels  of  rye 0  :  10  :    0 

May,        1791.    "  1  bushel  of  salt 0:    6:    0 

Oct.  .29,  1793.    "  my  Edward  1  day  at  work 0:    2:    0 

"  2  days  Edward,  oxen  and  cart 0  :    8  :    0 

Oct  24,  1794.    "  Dimick  and  oxen  one  day 0:    3:    6 

Feb.  16,  1795.    This  day  reckoned  and  settled  all  acct.  between  Lt.  Ellis  and 
Lt.  Annable.  Edward  Annablx. 

June  ye  19,  1785.     Then  received  of  John  Ellis  eight  shillings  and  two 
pence,  being  the  tax  due  on  the  Lot  No.  53,  on  the  north  side  of  said  lot. 

Philip  Phillips,  Col. 

*Hardwick  is  in  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  about  40  miles  southeast  from  Ashfitld.  As  I 
And  no  other  Llncolns  in  Asbfleld,  I  think  it  probable  that  Samuel  came  firom  Hardwick. 
See  page  107. 

tOrandfather  of  Hannah  Ranney  Ellis  (see  page  176),  and  H.  S.  Hanney,  of  Aahfleld. 


319 

Elder  Ebenezer  Smith  Dr. 

1736.  £     s.      d. 

Jan.  3.  To  my  sleif^h  to  Goshen 0  :     1  :    0 

"     "        "     for  a  number  of  seasoDB 0:1:4 

"  butter 0  :    2  :    6 

May  11,  1789.    "  grinding  2  bushels  of  wheat  and  2  of  rye 0:    1:     5 

"  2  sheep  that  weighed  155  lbs 0  :  12  :  11 

Mar.  11,  1790.    "  1  peck  of  wheat  for  father 0:    1:    4 

May  11,  1789.     Then  reckoned  and  settled  all  past  accounts  between  Elder 
Smith  and  myself. 

John  Ellis. 
Ebenezkr  Smith. 

Richard  Ellis*  Db. 

1786.  £    8,     d. 

Apr,  18.  To  1  pint  of  old  rum 0  :  0  :  10 

"i     "         "      "     0:0:4 

1786.                                         Credit. 
Mar.  24.  By  cash 0:1:    0 

Benjamin  Ellis,  SR.f  Cr. 

1789.                                                                                                 £  s.     d. 
July  15.                Credit  by  Boards,  to  be  paid  in  Beef  or  grain  at  the 

market  price 1  ;  9  ;  10 

Debtor 
1789.  £     *.    d. 

July  25.  To  meat 0:    4:2 

Dec.  14.  "   98  lbs.  of  beef 0  :  16  :  5 

Nov.  20,  1790.      "    Isheep 0:    6:0 


March  7th,  1791.  This  day  reckoned  with  Edward  Annable  for  keeping 
Father  Ellis,  and  all  other  accounts,  and  found  due  him  one  shilling,  as  wit- 
ness our  hands. 

John  Ellis. 
Edward  Annable. 

Besides  the  foregoing  the  following  are  names  of  persons  in  Ashfield  with 
whom  Lieut.  John  Ellis  did  business  between  the  years  1773  and  1800.  It  is 
probable  that  most  of  these  persons  lived  in  the  Ellis  neighborhood,  or  north- 
east part  of  the  town: 

Samuel  Annable,  Jr.,  Barnabas  Annable,  Edward  Annable,  John  Amsden, 
James  Andrews,  Erastus  Andrews,  David  Alden^  Abel  Allis,  Isaac  AldeD,  Ebe- 
nezer Belding,  Jan.,  John  Belding — was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  army, 
Daniel  Belding,  Samuel  Belding,  John  Blackmore,  Dr.  Phineas  Bartlet,  Samuel 

•Son  of  Reuben  Ellis.    See  (29)  page  8S.  fSee  page  80  (22). 


0 


32o 

Bartlet,  Davis  Butler,  Nathan  Batchelder,  Dea.  John  Bemeut.  Kolin  Blackmore^ 
Samuel  Bardwell,  Bezer  Benton,  William  Billings,  Benjamin  Crittenden,  Jere- 
miah Center,  Noah  Cross,  John  Conley — a  tailor,  Nathan  Chapin,  Levi  Cook, 
David  Cobb,  Benjamin  Ellis,  Richard  Ellis,  David  Ellis,  Samuel  Elmer,  Maj. 
Lamrock  Flower,  Sr.,  Capt.  Lamrock  Flower,  Jr.,  Bildad  Flower,  William 
Flower.  Phineas  Flower,  Oliver  Field,  Moses  Frarey,  Uriah  Goodwin,  Mr. 
Griswold,  Mr.  Gay,  Dr.  Moses  Hayden,  of  Conway;  Kimbel  Howes,  Aaron 
Hayden,  Ephraim  Jennings,  Reuben  Kendrick,  John  King,  Caleb  King,  Jacob 
Kilburn— a  shoemaker,  Samuel  Linconln,  Archibald  Lindsey,  Jonathiin  Lyon, 
Elial>  Lindsey,  Silas  Lilly,  Aaron  Lyon,  Dr.  Francis  Mantor,  Samuel  Moody, 
Capt.  Norton,  Jacob  Orcutt,  Richard  Phillips,  Abner  Phillips,  Philip  Phillips, 
Timothy  Perkins,  Enos  Pomeroy — clothier,  of  Buckland;  Thos.  Phillips,  Jr., 
John  Perry,  John  Porter,  Samuel  Porter,  Bufus  Perkins,  Joseph  Potter,  Samuel 
Prince,  Spencer  Phillips — was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  Daniel  Phillips, 
Eliab  Perkins,  Elizabeth  Potter,  Samuel  Rockwood,  George  Ranney,  Abel 
Smith,  Levi  Steel,  Jacob  Sherwin — first  minister  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
Elihu  Smead,  Ephraim  Smith,  Stephen  Smith,  Lemuel  Spurr,  John  Sherwin, 
Nehemiah  Spragae,  Thomas  Stocking,  Rufus  Sears,  Mehitable  Smith,  Ezariah 
Selden,  Chileab  Smith,  Jr.,  Ebenezer  Sprague,  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith,  Jona- 
than Taylor,  C»pt.  Thomas  Warner,  Seth  Waite,  Josiah  Ward,  William  Ward, 
Samuel  Washburn,  Caleb  Wood,  John  Wilke,  Elijah  Ward,  Jonathan  Yemans . 


CfXEBRATION  AT  TH£  ELLIS  AND  PHIIXIPS  FORT  IN  1886.     . 

September  8th,  1886,  a  celebration  was  held  at  the  site  of  the  old  fort, 
near  Thomas  Phillips,  Sr.'s,  house,  in  Ashfield.  This  fort  was  situated  about 
fifty  rods  north  of  Bear  River,  and  twenty  rods  west  of  the  north  and  south 
road  which  run  from  Richard  Ellis'  house  to  Baptist  Corner.  Rev.  Mr. 
Shepard,  in  his  sketches  [see  page  280],  locates  this  fort  at  about  one  mile  and 
a  half  southwest  of  Mr.  Chileab  Smith's  residence,  and  near  the  house  occupied 
in  1833  by  Mr.  Sears.  The  spot  is  really  about  one-half  mile  south  of  Mr. 
Smith's.  This  fort  was  the  principal  one  in  Ashfield,  that  at  Mr.  Smith's 
house  being  mostly  of  a  private  character  and  constructed  mainly  by  the 
Smiths.  Early  residents  of  Ashfield  say  that  the  site  of  the  Ellis  and  Phillips 
fort  was  the  one,  and  only  one,  pointed  out  to  them  by  their  grandfathers,  the 
first  settlers,  as  being  the  site  of  their  ancient  refuge  in  the  war  of  1756.  Mr. 
Lewis  Ellis  [241],  of  Belding,  Mich.,  who  was  in  Ashfield  in  May  of  the  pres- 
ent year  [1887],  together  with  the  writer,  informed  the  latter  that  his  father 
and  grandfather  had  often  pointed  out  this  spot  to  him  as  the  site  of  the  old 
fort.  His  grandfather,  Lieut.  John  Ellis  [see  page  70],  was  fourteen  years  of 
age  at  the  time,  and  aided  in  building  the  fort.  Mr.  Lewis  Ellis  was  thirty- 
one  years  of  age  when  he  removed  from  Ashfield  to  Belding.  He  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  Smiths  and  others  at  Baptist  Comer,  but  never  heard 
mention  of  the  fort  there. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  from  H.  S.  Ranney,  Esq. : 
"  Respecting  the  meeting  at  the  site  of  the  old  fort  on  the  8th  inst.  [Sep- 
tember,  1886],  I  have  to  say:    There  was  a  very  large  attendance  and  a  time 
of  much  enjoyment  to  all,  a  report  of  which,  in  the  Gazette  and  Courier,  I  send 


321 

you.  The  location  is  called  'Fort  Ellis  &  Phillips.'  The  fort  was  not  an 
earthwork,  but  was  constructed  of  upright  logs  of  sufficient  thickness  to  be 
bullet  proof,  set  three  feet  into  the  earth,  and  rising  ten  or  twelve  feet  above. 

"  The  location  is  at  the  spot  where  it  is  believed  Thomas  Phillips  first  set- 
tled, forty  or  fifty  rods  north  of  Bear  river,  about  twenty  rods  west  of  the  road 
and  a  little  more  than  half  a  mile  north  of  the  first  Richard  EUis'  house, 
being  on  the  south  side  of  the  discontinued  road  that  led  due  east  from  the 
place  where  Obed  Elmer  lived  fifty  years  ago. 

"  The  stockade  or  fort  that  enclosed  the  dwelling-house  of  Chileab  Smith 
was  a  half  mile  north  from  this. " 

But  it  is  probable  that  Mr.  Shepard  was  mainly  right  in  what  he  states  of 
the  Chileab  Smith  fort,  as  he  derived  his  information  from  Chileab  Smith,  Jr., 
who  was  fourteen  years  of  age  at  the  time  the  fort  was  built  by  his  father  and 
brother  Ebenezer,  and  perhaps  others. 

The  fact  of  the  celebration  of  1886  at  the  Ellis  and  Phillips  site  is  confirm- 
ation that  this  was  the  historic  fort  of  Ashfield — or  Huntstown,  as  it  was  then 
called.  By  reference  to  the  Map  of  that  section  of  Ashfield,  it  will  be  seen 
that  this  locality  is  between  the  early  residences  of  Richard  Ellis  and  Thomas 
Phillips,  and  but  a  few  rods  south  from  where  Mr.  Sears  lived  in  1833. 

The  report  of  the  celebration  alluded  to  above  is  taken  from  the  Greenfield 
Gazette  and  Courier  of  September,  1886: — 

Away  up  in  the  town  of  Ashfield,  three  miles  northeast  of  "The  Plain," 
is  a  sort  of  basin  formed  by  the  hills,  with  a  bottom  nearly  circular,  a  half  mile 
or  more  in  diameter.  Upon  this  bottom,  on  a  little  rise  not  far  from  its  cen- 
ter, the  savants  will  show  you  a  half-dozen  hollows  in  the  ground,  the  largest 
of  which  a  half-dozen  cartloads  of  earth  would  fill  up,  and  a  hole  as  big  as  a 
man's  body  and  four  feet  deep.  The  hollows,  they  will  tell  you,  were  the  cel- 
lars of  buildings  constructed  within  a  stockade,  and  the  hole  was  the  well 
from  which  the  water  for  the  occupants  was  drawn.  This  stockade  was  the 
fort  to  whose  protection  the  settlers  would  fiy  when  danger  menaced.  From 
some  of  these  early  settlers  it  is  supposed  it  took  its  name — Fort  Ellis  and 
Phillips.  This  was  the  spot  of  the  celebration  on  Wednesday  last,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Pocomtuck  Valley  Memorial  Association  [named  from  a  locality 
near  Deerfield,  Mass.],  an  organization  whose  purpose  it  is  to  preserve  ancient 
things,  to  mark  with  monuments  historical  spots,  and  gather  up  and  preserve 
all  fragments  of  local  history. 

The  day  was  a  fine  one,  and  the  thousand,  more  or  less,  of  people  who 
assembled  in  the  fragrant  pine  grove,  a  few  paces  from  the  site  of  the  fort,  had 
a  most  enjoyable  time.  They  feasted  the  inner  man  on  the  good  things  they 
had  brought  with  them,  or  on  the  viands  so  bountifully  provided  at  the  table 
for  the  guests,  and  their  eyes  upon  those  worthies  who  occupy  the  seats  of 
honor  upon  such  occasions,  and  who  by  their  labors  and  pre-eminence  in  this 
field  are  worthy  to  occupy  them,  of  whom  two  good  specimens  are  Hon.  Geo. 
Sheldon  and  Jonathan  Johnson.  The  committee  of  arrangements,  of  which  F. 
G.  Howes  was  chairman,  had^made  every  provision  in  way  of  platforms  and 
seats  for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  audience  and  speakers. 

In  the  forenoon  at  about  10:30  F.  G.  Howes,  for  the  committee,  made  the 
address  of  welcome,  and  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Sheldon,  who  had  not  yet  ar- 
rived, George  William  Curtis   was  designated  to  act  as  presiding  officer.     He 


3«« 

happily  introduced  Prof.  J,  Stanley  Hall,  of  John  Hopkins  University,  and  a 
native  of  Ashtield,  to  whom  had  been  assigned  the  historical  address.  The 
following  is  a  brief  outline  of  what  he  said: 

The  history  of  Ashfield  is  preceded  by  a  legend  never  written  or  printed, 
the  elements  of  which  are  clearly  of  great  antiquity;  but  which  is  only  loosely 
allotted  to  these  hills.  I  was  first  "let  in  "  to  it  this  summer  by  an  aged  man, 
known  and  revered  by  all,  only  after  long  persuasion,  for  fear  lest  I  should  re- 
gard it  or  him  as  ridiculous,  and  after  a  promise  not  to  connect  his  name  with 
it.     It  runs  about  as  follows: 

The  world  began  in  the  vicinity  of  the  "Tunnel  Mountain,"  which  first 
of  all  land  in  this  part  of  the  world  rose  out  of  the  watery  chaos.  After  many 
ages  pale-faced  men  of  great  stature  and  sagacity  appeared  from  the  northeast 
and  settled  miles  apart  upon  the  best  hills — one  upon  Indian  Bill,  one  upon 
Catamount  Hill,  and  others  elsewhere,  these  two  being  the  headquarters  of  all 
high  hills  and  wild  Indians.  These  two  brothers  were  not  satisfied  with  the 
world  as  they  found  it,  and  would  make  it  better,  and  first  sought  to  remould 
the  great  features  of  the  landscape.  What  is  now  the  Deerfield  river  was  far 
larger  th&n  at  present,  and  fiowed  south  of  these  hills,  making  a  broad  and 
deep  lake  over  Buckland  Bay,  the  only  outlet  of  which  was  by  the  Richmond 
or  Hermon  Howes  place  into  the  pond.  Thence  its  majestic  current  covered 
all  the  plain  and  South  Ashfield,  with  a  dangerous  rapid  between  them,  down 
to  Dug  Way  (the  newer  and  narrower  channels  not  being  yet  cut),  and  thence 
through  Conway  to  the  Connecticut.  These  two  great  squatter  sovereigns 
agreed  to  employ  large  troops  of  Indians,  working  with  sharpened  sticks  day 
and  night  for  many  years,  first  to  drain  Buckland  lake  toward  the  northeast, 
and  finally  to  turn  the  river  further  up  at  Catamount  Hill  into  its  present  and 
geologically  new  and  unnatural  course.  The  Indians  followed  the  river  for 
new  fishing  ground,  as  it  washed  over  upon  the  barren  wastes  of  Shelburne 
Falls  and  left  Ashfield  to  the  peace  and  solitude  she  stm  so  devoutly  cherishes, 
and  with  new  and  fertile  acres.  For  several  generations  Ashfield  flourished,  till 
men  grew  idle,  too  comfortable,  and  therefore  discontented,  till  the  older  fam- 
ilies died  out,  public  spirit  languished,  and  reverence  and  love  of  truth  had  fled, 
and  at  length  Indians  and  re-encroaching  forests  closed  in  and  destroyed  all 
trace  of  a  period  which,  had  it  developed  as  nobly  as  it  began,  would  have  set 
an  example  in  morals  and  industry  that  the  world  would  not  soon  have  lost. 

After  the  address  came  the  intermission  for  dinner,  and  about  two  the 
seats  were  all  occupied  and  the  platform  fringed  by  those  desiring  to  hear  the 
speaking.  The  Shelburne  Falls  band,  which  was  in  attendance  during  the 
day  and  frequently  respon<!)edi;to  the  calls  made  upon  it,  opened  the  exercises, 
and  then  came  an  address  oinalf  an  hour  by  Hon.  Creorge  Sheldon,  who  had 
been  felicitously  introduced  by  Mr.  Curtis*,  as  the  master  of  ceremonies  for  the 
rest  of  the  day.  His  address  was  in  the  historical  line,  and  extracts  are  pre- 
sented below : 

Through  the  joint  action  of  the  committees  having  in  charge  the  exercises 
of  this  day,  I  have  been  assigned  a  part  in  which  it  becomes  my  pleasant  and 

*Hon.  George  William  Curtis,  editor  of  Harper's  Week  ly  of  New  Yoric  City.  For  twenty- 
two  years  Mr.  Curtis  has  passed  the  summers  in  Ashfield. 


323 

grateful  duty  to  thank  the  people  of  Ashfield  for  the  cordial  welcome  which 
has  been  so  gracefully  oflfered,  and  especially  to  congratulate  them  on  the  pos- 
session of  that  spirit  which  alone  made  this  gathering  possible.  *  *  As  yet, 
I  have  found  no  sponsor  for  your  name  of  Ashfield.  It  may  hare  been  named 
as,  according  to  tradition,  were  the  towns  of  Athol,  Orange,  Coleraiue,  Shel- 
burne,  Montague  and  Warwick,  after  some  English,  titled  man,  in  considera- 
tion for  a  church  bell  which  he  was  to  present  to  the  town  honored  by  his 
name.  *  *  Now,  this  is  a  pretty  romance;  but,  to  my  knowledge,  it  has 
not  been  adopted  by  your  people.  I  am  sure,  however,  you  have  just  as  good 
a  right  to  such  a  tradition  as  the  towns  named,  provided  you  first  catch  the 
necessary  Lord  Ashtield.  As  I  have  not  faith  that  you  will  succeed  in  that 
field,  I  will  venture  another  theory  lo  account  for  the  name  Ashfield — a  theory, 
not  a  historical  fact.     But  I  give  the  facts  on  which  the  theory  is  founded: 

The  grant  of  Huntstown  was  to  be  laid  out  west  of  and  adjoining  Deer- 
field.  When  the  settlers  began  their  battle  with  the  sylvan  gods,  it  is  recorded 
that  it  was  "near  the  easterly  bounds,  so  to  be  near  our  Deerfield  neighbors," 
and  consequently  it  must  have  been  on  the  easterly  tier  of  lots.  The  mighty 
oak,  the  towering  pine,  the  dark,  spreading  hemlock,  the  fruitful  chestnut — 
diadems  in  the  glorious  crown  of  a  primeval  age — bowed  to  the  ground  before 
their  sturdy  blows.  The  fierce  fiames  assailed  the  prostrate  giants,  and  in 
place  of  the  green  woodland  nothing  met  the  eye  but  charred  stumps  and  a 
field  strewn  with  ashes — an  ashfield  literally.  It  was  this  very  clearing  that 
Deerfield  people  claimed  as  being  within  their  bounds,  and  while  the  process 
of  cutting  down  and  burning  was  going  on,  the  Deerfield  neighbors,  near  whom 
they  were  so  anxious  to  live,  would  taunt  them  from  the  border  woods,  and 
cry  out:  "Clear  away  as  fast  as  you  can;  we  shall  soon  come  and  occupy  it." 
*  *  *  *  *  »  **  * 

I  wish  here  to  acknowledge  the  lasting  obligations  which  the  valley  towns 
lie  under  to  Huntstown.  But  for  her  valor  the  river  settlements  might  have 
been  all  swept  away  in  the  last  French  war.  I  speak  now  of  her  own  estimate 
of  her  own  prowess,  given  under  her  own  hand,  as  found  in  history.  It  may 
be  thought  racher  late  in  the  day,  but  now,  after  130  years  have  passed,  as  a 
representative  of  the  valley,  I  tender  grateful  thanks  to  Ashfield;  and  no  spot 
is  so  fitting  on  which  to  make  this  acknowledgment  as  that  where  we  meet  to- 
day. Here  stood  the  bulwark  of  our  safety.  Here  was  shown — taking,  as  in 
common  courtesy  we  are  bound  to  do,  Huntstown's  view  of  it— the  patriotism 
and  self  denial  which  assured  our  safe  continuance  in  the  land  of  the  living. 
In  a  petition  addressed  by  the  people  of  Huntstown  to  the  General  Court,  ask- 
ing aid  in  holding  the  fort,  one  of  the  prime  considerations  set  forth  was  its 
benefit  to  the  settlements  in  the  valley  below.  They  say,  from  their  own  sit- 
uation they  are  a  "  8pesil  gard  to  Hatfield  &  dearfield,  &  thar  viligses,  to  wit. 
a  place  cald  roreing  brook,  a  place  cald  Scras  (?)  and  a  place  cald  Moody  brook, 
&  the  place  cald  the  Bars  &  a  place  called  wopin."  This  was  in  1756.  For 
the  information  of  the  General  Court  a  map  of  this  region  was  sent  with  the 
above.  The  Connecticut  Valley — its  base  was  represented  by  two  circles  with 
a  dot  in  the  center  of  each.  One  was  marked:  "  Hear  is  hatfield;"  thence  ran 
a  straight  road  marked:  "Northwest  about  18  miles  is  Huntstown."  The 
other  circle  was  labeled  "Hear  is  Deerfield,"  and  a  similar  road  thence  was 
marked  "About  8  miles  west  is  Hunts  town."     The  acute  angle  where  these 


^ 


( 


t 


324 

roads  meet  must  be  at  this  very  spot.  This  map  was  evidently  home-made, 
and  I  assume  it  to  be  the  work  of  Huntstown's  first  highway  surveyor,  Wil- 
liam Curtis.  »  »  » 

Our  Association  comes  here  to-day,  Mr.  Chairman,  to  awaken  a  new  pub- 
lic interest  in  one  particular  event  in  the  life  of  Ashfield — the  erection  on  this 
•pot  of  that  fortification  which  was  the  ark  of  safety  to  the  settlers  in  1756. 
We  trust  the  interest  so  manifestly  shown  to-day  will  not  die  out  until  some 
ftppropriate  monument  marks  the  spot;  to  the  end  that  coming  generations 
may  seek  this  place  and  take  note  of  the  patience  and  fortitude  of  their  ances- 
tors in  battling  against  the  forces  of  nature  and  a  savage  foe,  and  thence  draw 
strength  for  their  own  warfare. 

But  from  a  different  point  of  view  this  locality  is  worthy  of  another  mon- 
ument, to  be  dedicated  to  brave  Chileab  Smith,  his  faithful  son  Ebenezer  and 
their  compeers,  who  battled  for  long  years  to  obtain  what  the  Pilgrims  sought 
afar — freedom  to  worship  God  after  ways  of  their  own  choice;  freedom  to  think 
for  themselves.  For  this  they  struggled  against  the  combined  forces  of  church 
and  State,  which  strove  to  stifle  their  thoughts  and  bend  their  consciences  to 
one  narrow  creed.  The  men  who  planted  themselves  on  this  comer  and  on 
this  principle  were  men  of  pluck,  with  iron  wills  and  muscles  of  steel,  with  a 
tenacity  which  enabled  them  to  hold  their  own  against  all  comers — the  Indian 
barbarian,  the  land-grabber  from  Deerfield,  the  exactions  of  civil  and  ecclesi- 
astical oppression.  They  were  persecuted,  but  not  subdued.  When  their 
lands  were  sold  and  their  cattle  taken  to  support  a  doctrine  to  which  they 
could  not  subscribe,  they  submitted,  but  with  solemn  protest  and  righteous 
indignation  expressed  in  strong  terms.  What  though  their  theological  integu- 
ments were  as  tough  as  their  own  buckskin  garments,  it  matters  not.  They 
stood  up  manfully  for  lib<!rty.  They  fought  a  good  fight  for  an  inborn  right — 
the  right  to  think  for  themselves.  They  sowed  good  seed,  but  for  them  the 
harvest  was  scant.  All  honor,  then,  to  Chileab,  Ebenezer,  the  brave  Remem- 
ber, and  their  fellows,  for  their  vigorous  tugging  at  the  cords  with  which  the 
standing  order  essayed  to  bind  the  thoughts  and  emotions  of  men.  Liberty 
stands  to-day  on  a  broader  foundation;  thought  to-day  is  more  free  all  over  our 
wide  land  for  the  earnest  and  incessant  protest  that  went  up  from  Baptist 
Comer. 

Mr.  Sheldon  also  gave  an  account  of  what  he  called  the  first  Fourth  of 
July  celebration  in  Huntstown,  when  Ebenezer  Smith,  with  Remember  Ellis 
£see  page  71]  on  a  pillion  behind  him,  with  his  father  riding  in  front  as  a  body 
guard,  rode  through  the  wilderness  to  Deerfield,  where  the  two  former  were 
united  in  marriage  by  Parson  Ashley.  It  was  during  the  hight  of  the  last 
French  War  and  a  bold  adventure.  "  Go  back  to  the  deeds  of  chivalry,"  said 
the  speaker;  "explore  the  whole  circumference  of  the  Round  Table,  and 
Among  all  the  heroes,  clad  in  silken  doublet  and  encased  in  burnished  steel 
and  gleaming  silver,  where  will  you  find  a  more  daring  and  romantic  quest  ? 
Where  a  braver  and  more  knightly  heart  than  that  which  beat  under  the 
homespun  butternut  of  your  good  Knight  Chileab  ?  " 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Sheldon's  address  the  St.  Cecelia  Club,  of  Shelbume 
Falls,  composed  of  Mrs.  Baker,  Miss  Bardwell  and  Messrs.  Hawks  and  Had* 
ley,  sang  most  acceptably,  repeating  their  success  of  the  morning.     Later  they 


325 

were  called  upon  again,  and  made  an  excellent  hit,  proving  once  more  that 
this  is  a  musical  combination  of  unusual  merit. 

J.  Johnson,  of  Greenrteld,  gave  a  brief  account  of  the  organization  of  the 
P.  V.  M.  A.  and  a  brief  review  of  some  of  the  celebrations  it  has  been  instru- 
mental in  holding,  and  closed  with  an  exhortation  to  the  young  to  make  col- 
lections of  relics  similar  to  that  at  Deerfield  for  every  village.  Prof.  W.  F. 
Sherwin,  of  the  Boston  Conservatory  of  Music,  a  native  of  Buckland,  made  a 
very  felicitous  speech,  of  which  the  main  idea  was  that  these  gatherings  are 
excellent  for  kindling  anew  the  love  for  old-time  things  and  the  old-time  virtues 
of  the  fathers.  Hon.  W.  B.  Davenport,  of  Xew  York  city,  happening  to  be 
present,  was  presented,  and  he,  too,  dwelt  upon  the  propriety  of  keeping  green 
the  memories  of  the  early  settlers,  through  whose  pluck  and  endurance  we 
have  this  fair  heritage.  Prof.  Charles  Eliot  Norton,  of  Harvard  University, 
the  next  speaker,  warmly  urged  that  in  the  public  hall  of  each  town  mural 
tablets  be  put  up,  and,  under  the  inscription:  "  These  have  done  their  part  for 
Ashfield,"  or  Charlemont,  or  Hawley,  as  the  case  may  be,  the  names  of  the 
men  who  have  been  the  leaders  in  the  town's  progress  may  be  chiseled,  that 
succeeding  ages  may  have  constantly  before  their  eyes  an  inspiration  to  do 
their  part  in  bearing  public  burdens.  Judge  Conant,  of  Greenfield,  had  a  few 
words  of  the  same  general  tenor,  giving  due  credit  to  the  P.  V.  M.  A.  for  the 
unselfish  work  it  is  doing.  The  closing  address  was  made  by  George  William 
Curtis.  Mr.  Curtis  spoke  of  the  pride  New  England  takes  in  these  historical 
places,  hallowed  by  the  virtue,  patriotism  and  persevering  industry  of  the 
fathers,  and  thought  that  while  this  feeling  of  reverence  for  these  consecrated 
things  remains  there  need  be  no  fear  for  the  safety  of  the  Republic;  but  when 
Concord  and  Trenton  and  Bunker  Hill  cease  to  warm  the  feelings  and  quicken 
•  the  pulses,  a  decay  in  patriotic  sentiment  has  begun  that  will  end  in  the  down- 
fall of  the  nation.  Mr.  Curtis  spoke  on  this  theme  with  great  eloquence, 
fascinating  his  hearers  by  a  magic  power  of  oratory  possessed  by  few  other 
Americans,  if  by  any. 

It  was  a  little  after  4  o'clock  when  the  gathering  broke  up,  and  all  went 
away  feeling,  as  one  man  said,  that  "it  was  the  most  enjoyable  picnic  of  his 
life." 


80LDIEKS'  GUARD  AT  HUNTSTOWN  IN  1756. 

The  following  is  taken  from  a  "History  of  Deerfield,"  by  Hon.  George 
Sheldon : 

"  March  27th,  Col.  Williams  writes  Shirley  that  '  Huntstown  people  quit- 
ted their  place  last  summer  for  want  of  protection,  but  several  families  returned 
and  lived  there  through  the  winter,  &  others  Mill  join  them  if  they  can  have 
help.  Encouraged  by  what  they  heard  from  you  by  their  messenger  they  have 
begun  to  fortifie  &  in  a  few  days  will  have  a  garrison  completed.  Before  the 
war  they  had  fitted  a  large  area  of  land  for^tillage  &  raised  considerable  provi- 
sions. That  is  gone  and  they  know  not  where  to  look  for  their  bread,  or  what 
method  to  take  for  their  support,  &  unless  something  can  be  done  for  them 
they  must  again  leave  the  place — With  a  guard  of  10  or  12  men  they  think 
they  may  work  upon  their  land  with  tolerable  safety.'  Williams  recommends 
putting  part  of  the  men  under  pay  to  guard  the  rest. " 


3*26 

"July  8th,  Col.  "Williams  is  directed  to  send  a  guard  to  Huntstown." 

"Sept.  6th,  Capt.  John  Catlin  returns  a  list  of  men  he  had  "impressed 
for  his  majesties  Service,"  doubtless  for  the  army  under  Lord  Loudon,  near 
Albany.     They  were: 

"  'Sergt.  John  Sheldon,  Sergt.  Joseph  Smead,  Sergt.  David  Hoyt,  Corp. 
Nathan  Frary;  Centinals — Seth  Catlin,  Samuel  Dickinson,  Joseph  Mitchell, 
John  Hinsdale,  John  Hawks,  Jr.,  David  Childs,  Caleb  Allen,  Eliakim  Arms, 
Samuel  Belden,  Moses  Nims,  Augustus  Wells,  Jona.  Catlin,  Solomon  Newton, 
Samuel  Hinsdale,  Justin  Bnll,  Benjamin  Munn,  Jr.' 

"  These  men  were  the  real  bone  and  muscle  of  Deerfield  and  could  not  well 
be  spared  in  her  straitened  circumstances.  Greendeld  and  Northfield  were 
drained  in  the  same  manner  of  their  best  material  for  Loudon's  at-my." 

In  the  above  extract  Mr.  Sheldf)n  gives  the  names  of  two — Joseph  Mitchell 
and  Samuel  Belding — who  became,  soon  afterwards,  residents  of  Huntstown. 


COMMISSION  OF  LiIEVT.  DAVID  ELLIS  IN  1795. 

By  his  Excellency,  Samuel  Adams,  Esq.,  Governor  and  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  to  David  Ellis,  Gentleman,  of 
Ashfield,  Greeting: 

You  being  appointed  Lieutenant  of  a  Company  in  the  Fifth  Regiment  of 
the  Second  Brigade,  Fourth  Division  of  the  Militia  of  this  Commonwealth,  By 
Virtue  of  the  Power  vested  in  me,  I  do  by  these  presents  (reposing  special 
Trust  and  Confidence  in  your  Ability,  Courage  and  good  Conduct)  Commision 
you  accordingly.  You  are  therefore  carefully  and  dilligently  to  discharge  the 
Duty  of  Lieutenant  in  leading,  ordering  and  exercising  said  Company  in  Arms, 
both  inferior  oflBcers  and  soldiers,  and  to  keep  them  in  good  Order  and  Disci- 
pline. And  they  are  hereby  commanded  to  obey  you  as  their  Lieutenant. 
And  you  are  yourself  to  observe  and  follow  such  Orders  and  Instructions  as 
you  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  from  me  or  your  Superior  Officers. 

Given  under  my  Hand  and  the  Seal  of  the  said  Commonwealth,  the  fourth 
day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1795,  and  in  the  Twentieth  year  of 
the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America. 
By  the  Governor, 
'-'  SAMUEL  ADAMS. 

John  Avkry,  Jun., 

Sec'y. 

May  Ist,  1798,  Lieut.  David  Ellis  was  honorably  discharged,  at  his  own 
request. 


COMMISSION  OF  LUBUT.  DIMICK  ELLIS  IN  1806. 

On  the  5th  day  of  May,  1806,  Mr.  Dimick  Ellis,  of  Ashfield,  was  commis- 
sioned a  Lieutenant  of  a  Company  in  the  Fifth  Begiment  of  the  Second  Brigade. 
The  commission  is  in  the  same  form  as  that  above,  but  signed  by  Caleb 
Strong,  Governor,  and  John  L.  Austin,  Secretary. 


329 

EXPIiANATION  OF  THE  MAP  OF  THE  NORTHEAST  PART  OF 
ASHFIELD. 

The  Map  is  engraved  from  drawings  kindly  furnished  by  Messrs.  Henry  S. 
Ranney  and  Frederick  G.  Howes,  of  Ashfield.  The  reader  is  also  indebted  to- 
the  public  spirit  and  generosity  of  these  gentlemen  for  much  of  the  descrip- 
tions following. 

A.  Is  the  roadway  running  from  Conway  westerly  through  the  Ellis  set- 
tlement up  to  the  Plain  or  village  near  the  center  of  the  town — a  distance  of 
about  three  miles.  Its  many  crooks  and  turns  are  to  avoid  impassable 
ledges  of  rocks.  The  whole  face  of  country  hereabouts  is  very  uneven. 
Standing  at  the  site  of  the  old  residence  of  Lieut.  John  Ellis  (No.  14  on 
the  map),  is  a  plat  of  four  or  five  acres  nearly  level.  East  and  north  is  a 
steep  descent  of  about  200  feat  to  White  Brook  and  Bear  River.  South  and 
southwest  is  Mill  Hill,  about  .300  feet  higher  than  the  Ellis  residence;  directly 
west  is  Bellows  Hill,  about  100  feet  lower  than  Mill  Hill.  Between  these  ele- 
vations is  a  depression,  through  which  the  roadway  passes.  North  from  the 
John  Ellis  home  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  and  across  Bear  River,  are  high 
lands  again,  which,  like  all  hereabouts,  ar  ecomposed  of  immense  ledges  of 
rocks,  covered  in  places  with  thin  soil.  In  early  times  these  mountain  sides  were 
cleared,  and  made  fair  pasturage  for  cattle  and  sheep.  Many  of  these  places 
have  been  neglected,  and  are  now  covered  with  young  pine  and  hemlock  trees. 
Some  of  the  valleys  between  these  hills  and  along  the  streams  are  quite  fertile, 
producing  considerable  grass  and  coarse  grain. 

B.  Is  the  roadway  to  South  Ashfield  and  Goshen  township. 

C.  Road  north  to  Baptist  Corner  (the  Smith  neighborhood)  and  Shel- 
bume  Falls.  From  Baptist  Corner  north  to  the  Buckland  towa  line  is  352 
rods. 

D.  Road  from  Baptist  Comer,  west  and  southerly,  to  the  Plain  (Ashfield 
village).  This  road  now  runs  from  No,  49  in  a  northerly  direction  to  Baptist 
Corner.  Tnat  part  which  originally  ran  from  49  easterly  by  the  old  fort  at 
30  to  the  north  and  south  road  is  now  discontinued. 

E.  Road  from  the  Plain  southeasterly  to  South  Ashfield  and  Conway 
township. 

F.  Road  from  the  Plain  southwesterly  to  Plainfield  township,  and  Peru, 
Hinsdale  and  Dalton  in  Berkshire  County. 

^  G.  Road  northwesterly  to  Hawley  township. 

H.  Stage  road  northerly  to  Buckland  township  and  Shelbnme  Falls. 

OO.  Road  laid  out  in  1754  from  Deerfield  to  Heber's  fence,  29  (see  page 
302).  What  was  then  called  "Deerfield  bounds"  included  what  is  now  the 
town  of  Conway,  up  to  the  line  of  Huntstown  or  Ashfield,  marked  A.  on  the 
map.     Part  of  the  road  from  A.  to  35  is  now  discontinued. 

The  Streams  of  Ashfield  are  very  unpretentious  in  size,  except  in  times  of 
freshets,  and  are  of  no  importance  as  waterpowers.  Bear  River  is  the  largest, 
and  ordinarily  is  not  more  than  twelve  feet  in  width  and  eight  to  twelve  inches 
in  depth.  It  runs  easterly  through  the  eastern  part  of  Ashfield,  and  then 
northeasterly  through  Conway  to  Deerfield  River.  There  are  now  no  mills  on 
it  within  the  limits  of  Ashfield. 

Pond  Brook  is  the  outlet  to  Great  Pond.  It  runs  in  the  rear  of  the  village 
on  the  Plain  down  through  South  Ashfield,  where  it  becomes  or  is   called 


33" 

Sonth  River,  then  runs  northeasterly  and  empties  into  Deerfield  River,  two  or 
three  miles  east  from  Bear  River  outlet.  At  South  Ashiield  there  were  dams 
on  this  stream,  with  small  mills.  At  the  Pond  there  is  a  dam  which  raises  the 
water  about  eight  feet.  lu  1878  this  dam  was  overflowed  in  a  freshet  and 
carried  away.  The  waters  of  the  Pond  rushed  down  the  narrow  gorge,  destroy- 
ing a  number  of  mills  and  other  buildings  in  its  course. 

White  Brook,  and  Alden's  Brook  are  small  mountain  streams  about  a 
mile  in  length. 

1.  Site  of  Richard  Ellis'  house  in  1742.  About  1764  Mr.  Ellis  removed 
to  Colerain,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Balding  then  lived  on  this  place.  Hi.s  son,  John 
born  1756,  succeeded  his  father  on  this  homestead,  where  he  lived  until  1839. 
He  raised  a  large  family.  His  youngest  son,  Hiram,  lived  here  until  a^out 
1855.  when  he  removed  to  Ofcisco,  (now  Belding),  Michigan.  (See  page  117.) 
This  location  is  not  the  exact  site  of  the  "log  cabin  partly  underground,  in 
the  side  of  the  hill,"  which  Priest  Shepard,  in  his  Sketches  (see  page  278),  says 
was  about  fifty  rods  further  east,  near  the  buryiug  ground,  and  where  the 
present  road  runs.  In  early  times  the  road  ran  over  the  hill,  in  nearly  a 
straight  line  from  the  Alden  house  (5)  to  the  schoolhouse  (8),  and  on  the  north 
side  of  the  burying  ground  (7).  Mr.  Lawis  Ellis,  of  Belding,  Mich.,  born  in 
Ashfield  in  1811,  says  the  location  of  his  great  grandfather's  cabin  was  pointed 
out  to  him  as  being  on  the  side  hill  near  White  Brook,  where  Richard  felled 
the  first  tree,  and  not  far  from  where  Mr.  Phineas  Flower  (12)  lived  in  1833. 
In  1754,  when  the  "old  road  to  Huntstown"  (see  page  302)  was  laid  out,  it 
ran  from  Thomas  Phillips'  south  "to  Richard  Ellis'  7iew  house,"  which  is  the 
site  marked  1  on  the  map.  This  makes  it  evident  that  Richard's  first  log 
cabin  was  not  situated  exactly  at  the  corner,  where  the  new  house  was  built, 
and  where  the  Beldings  for  four  geaerations  lived,  and  where  Mr.  Leonard  D. 
Lanfair  now  resides.  This  farm,  or  "  Right,"  where  Richard  Ellis  first  settled, 
was  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  best  in  that  part  of  the  town.  It  was  lot  49, 
and  was  about  56  rods  in  width  east  and  west,  and  160  rods  from  Bear  River 
on  the  north,  to  about  60  rods  south  of  Richard's  house  at  No   1. 

2.  Is  the  house  where  Reuben  Ellis  (see  page  68)  lived  and  raised  his 
family.  He  bought  this  farm — "the  56th  Right  ' — of  his  father,  in  1751. 
(See  page  302.)  This  house,  like  all  others  in  those  days,  was  built  of  logs. 
It  was  occupied  until  about  1795. 

3.  Mount  Owen,  a  rocky  and  almost  inaccessible  peak,  about  100  rods  in 
the  rear  of  Reuben  Ellis'  house.  It  was  named  from  a  Mr.  Owen,  a  surveyor, 
who  became  lost  on  the  mountain  when  making  the  first  surveys  in  the  town. 
Its  top  is  about  1,700  feet  above  the  sea. 

4.  House  built  by  David  and  Jonathan  EUis  (sons  of  Reuben)  about  1795. 
David  Ellis,  Sr.,  (page  86)  lived  here  until  1818,  when  he  sold  the  house  and 
farm  to  Mr.  Jesse  Ranney,  and  moved  to  Springfield,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.  Mr.  Ran- 
ney  lived  on  this  place  until  his  death,  about  1859.  He  raised  a  large  family,  of 
whom  five  are  yet  living — Hannah  (see  page  175),  Erastus,  Edwin,  Lucretia 
and  Ruth — all  living  in  Michigan  except  Ruth. 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Mann  now  lives  on  the  old  Ellis-Ranney  homestead  in 
Ashfield. 

5»  The  Alden  home.     Dea.   David  Alden  settled  here  in  1765.     John 


331 

Alden,  a  very  aged  man,  son  of  David,  lived  there  as  late  as  1840.  John, 
Jr.,  and  Cyrus  were  his  sons.     A  Mr.  KeUey  now  lives  on  this  place. 

6.  Old  grist  mill  on  Bear  River,  built  about  1750  by  Richard  Ellis  and      -w- 
Chileab  Smith,  Sr.     It  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  stream  and  about  20  rods     / 
east  of  the  present  bridge  and  roadway.     Remains  of  the  mill  were  visible 
until  recent  times.     In  1886  one  of  the  old  millstones  was  removed  to  the  site 

of  the  ancient  EUis  and  Phillips  fort,  about  100  rods  northwest.  It  is  not  quite 
certain  whether  this  was  the  first  grist  mill  built  in  Ashfield,  or  the  one 
marked  (22)  near  the  Plain.     Both  have  long  since  gone  to  decay. 

7.  Burying  ground  near  Richard  Ellis'.  This  was  the  second  buryinjif 
ground  in  Ashfield.     It  is  small  in  extent — not  over  one  acre — and  only  used 

for  the  immediate  neighborhood.     There  lie  the  remains  of  Richard  Ellis  and     "^ 
wife.     (See  cut  of  monument  on  another  page.)  / 

On  this  ground  are  several  tombstones  bearing  an  early  date.  One  marked 
"E.  B.,  1776,"  is  a  dark,  rough  granite,  eight  or  ten  inches  across  the  face, 
and  perhaps  15  inches  high.  It  is  presumed  to  mark  the  burial  spot  of 
Ebenezer  Belding,  Sr.,  the  grandfather  of  Asher  Belding.     (See  page  117.) 

8.  The  Ellis  neighborhood  schoolhouse.  District  school  where  Mary 
Lyon  taught  three  terms,  about  1815-16. 

9.  Old  Fort,  built  in  1756  around  the  house  of  Chileab  Smith,  Sr.,  at  y 
"Baptist  Comer."     (See  page  280.)  /\ 

10.  House  where  Tiberius  Belding  (see  page  169)  lived  from  1839  to  1840. 
Mr.  Clarence  Hall  now  lives  on  this  place. 

11.  House  where  Dea.  Ebenezer  Belding  lived  at  an  early  date,  and 
where  his  son  Asher  (see  page  117)  lived  and  raised  his  family.  Ebenezer  died 
about  1820. 

12.  Site  where  Phineas  Flower  lived,  from  an  early  date  up  to  about 
1840.  The  house  was  built  by  his  father,  Maj.  William  Flower.  The  Major 
was  a  captain  of  militia,  and  aided  to  put  down  Shay's  Rebellion  or  insur- 
rection; just  after  the  Revolution. 

13.  House  where  Maj.  Lamrock  Flower  lived  from  the  earliest  times,  in 
Ashfield,  until  his  death  in  1815.  His  son,  Capt.  Lamrock  Flower,  raised  bis 
family  here.  (See  page  152. )  Mr.  Joshua  Hall  has  lived  here  for  about  thirty 
years  past.  He  has  erected  new  buildings  and  reconstructed  the  old  in  a  very 
handsome  manner.  This  house  stands  opposite  the  Lieut.  John  Ellis  house, 
where  Dimick  Ellis,  Esq.,  lived  in  1833,  when  Rev.  Mr.  Shepard  wrote  his 
sketches.  Mr.  Shepard  (see  page  287)  states  that  Dea.  Ebenezer  Belding  lived 
there  in  1763.     He  may  have  done  so  for  a  short  time. 

14.  House  of  Lieut.  John  Ellis,  erected  about  1795.  His  first  house  was 
built  of  logs,  about  1763,  and  was  some  twenty  rods  west  of  the  present  house. 
Lieut.  John  Ellis  raised  his  family  on  this  place.  (See  page  76.)  His  young- 
est son,  Dimick,  lived  on  the  homestead  after  the  death  of  his  parents,  in  1827, 
and  until  about  1842,  where  he  raised  his  family.  Dimick's  son,  Lewis  Ellis, 
now  of  Belding,  Mich.,  was  born  in  this  house,  in  1811,  and  lived  on  and 
worked  the  farm  until  his  removal  to  Michigan,  in  1842.  Mr.  Charles  Rogers 
now  owns  and  lives  on  this  place.  This  house  is  on  the  southeast  corner  of  lot 
7,  or  the  southwest  corner  of  lot  No.  8  according  to  the  original  survey  of  the 
proprietors. 

15.  Site  where  Samuel  Aimable,  Jr.,  settled,  about  1762,  and  where  he 


33^ 

lived  until  about  1S02,  when  he  removed  to  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  raised  a 
large  family  here.  One  of  his  sons,  Lieut.  Edward  Annable,  was  a  prominent 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  (See  page  92.)  Rev.  Jacob  Sherwin,  the 
first  Ocngregational  minister,  lived  at  one  time  on  this  site,  or  very  near  it. 

16.  Nightingale's  place.  One  of  the  first  settlers  was  Samuel  Nightin- 
gale. His  cabin  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  road,  the  back  of  which  was 
built  up  against  the'  face  of  a  large  rock.  This  rock  is  one  of  the  ancient  land- 
marks. It  has  a  perpendicular  surface  ten  or  twelve  feet  square,  facing  to  the 
southeast.  Nightingale  was  an  emigrant  from  England,  and  was  a  man  of 
ulicommon  learning  but,  withal,  so  queer  in  his  ways  that  he  was  counted  a 
*'  wizard." 

1 7.  Site  of  Joseph  Mitchell's  tavern,  the  first  public  house  in  the  town. 
No  remains  of  it  are  now  seen. 

18.  Site  of  sawmill.  Built  by  Lieut.  John  Ellis  and  Abner  Phillips  before 
the  Revolution.  It  went  to  decay  about  1790.  About  1825  Luther  Phillips 
built  a  carding  mill,  or  works,  on  this  site.  No  remains  are  now  visible  here 
except  the  mud-sill  to  the  dam,  at  the  lower  edge  of  the  bridge  which  crosses 
Bear  River  at  this  point.  Before  the  Revolution  Samuel  Elmer  settled  about 
100  rods  east  of  this  point,  on  the  north  side  of  the  road. 

19.  Site,  on  Bellows  Hill,  of  the  first  church  (Congregational),  built  in 
the  town.  The  frame  was  put  up  in  1 767,  and  the  following  year  it  was  taken 
down  and  re- erected,  and  the  building  completed  in  the  cemetery  on  the  Plain. 
(Marked  23  on  the  map.) 

20.  Mill  Hill.  Purchased  by  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis,  about  1820,  for  a  wood 
lot  and  sheep  pasture.     The  top  of  this  hill  is  about  1,700  feet  above  the  sea. 

21.  Gray  Brothers'  house.  About  1886  the  Grays — two  brothers — 
erected  the  largest  and  finest  barn  in  the  town,  if  not  in  the  county.  It  is  two 
stories  high  above  the  basement,  and  furnished  with  every  convenience.  The 
following  year  they  erected  an  elegant  and  costly  house  on  this  farm,  a  few- 
rods  south  of  the  barn. 

22.  Old  Mill  on  Pond  Brook.  Erected  by  the  Proprietors  about  174.S. 
After  this  went  to  decay  another  was  built,  which  also  disappeared  many 
years  ago,  about  1831. 

23.  Cemetery,  where  stood  the  Congregational  Church  after  its  removal 
from  Bellows  Hill,  in  1768.  This  is  the  principal  cemetery  in  the  town,  and 
has  many  beautiful  monuments  in  it. 

24.  Residence  of  Henry  S.  Ranney,  Esq. ,  town  clerk  for  the  past  forty 
years.  This  is  also  the  site  of  the  ancient  tavern  of  John  Williams,  built  in:- 
1792,  by  Zeehariah  Field.  It  is  one  of  the  tineat  locations  on  the  Plain,  or 
Ashfield  village. 

29.  Residence  and  farm  of  Frederick  G.  Howes,  Esq.,  an  enterprising 
citizen  of  Ashfield. 

26.  Site  of  Philip  Phillips,  Esq.'s  house.  He  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Phil- 
lips, the  second  settler  in  the  town,  and  was  a  very  intelligent  and  influential 
man.  He  had  thirteen  children — eleven  of  whom  were  sons,  each  one  over  six 
feet  tall.  Esquire  Phillips  was  an  oflScer  in  the  French  and  Indian  war  of 
1756.  He  formed  his  sons  into  a  company  and  took  great  pride  in  exhibiting 
them  at  military  trainings. 

27.  Residence  of  Mr.  Samuel  A.  Hall.     Previous  to  1860  this  house 


333 

stood  about  20  rods  south  of  I,  and  was   occupied  by  David,   son  of  John 
Belding. 

ii8.  Site  of  a  house  on  Bellows  Hili,  where  Philip  Phillips,  Esq.,  once 
lived.  Samuel  Annable  also  lived  there  for  a  time.  This  is  near  the  south- 
west corner  of  lot  or  Right  No.  1.     The  old  cellar-hole  is  yet  visible. 

29.  Site  of  Heber's  cabin,  on  the  west  side  of  Bellows  Hill.  Heber  was 
a  black  man,  said  to  have  been  brought  a  slave  from  Africa.  He  came  to 
Ashfield  with  the  Phillipses,  from  Easton,  or  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
Lot  or  Right  No.  1,  where  his  cabin  was  built,  was  taken  by  him  from  the 
original  Proprietors.  Lots  2,  3  and  4  were  on  the  west  from  this  lot.  Lots 
7,  8  and  9  were  on  the  east  side  of  lot  No.  1.  That  Heber  was  an  honest  and 
respected  man  is  evident  from  the  early  records  of  the  town,  where  he  is  men- 
tioned in  several  places,  when  taxes  were  assessed  to  him,  as  "Heber  honest- 
man,"  a  compliment  which  any  person  might  be  proud  of. 

30.  Site  of  the  Ellis  and  Phillips  Fort.     (See  pages  280  and  320.) 

31.  Site  of  house  of  Mr.  Sears.  This  is  the  place  to  which  Rev.  Mr. 
Shepard  referred  as  being  near  the  fort.     (See  page  280). 

32.  Site  of  residence  of  Thomas  Phillips,  Sr.,  brother  of  Richard  Ellis'      V/ 
wife.     He  was  the  second  settler  in  the  town.     There  is  a  tradition  that  his 


first  house  was  about  80  rods  south  of  32,  near  the  point  marked  0,  and  a  few 
rods  northeasterly  from  the  fort,  where  there  is  yet  to  be  seen  a  cellar  hole. 
Nearly  opposite  (32)  lived  Thomas  Phillips  Jr.,  and  after  him  his  son,  Russell 
Phillips,  who  married  Rhoda,  eldest  daughter  of  Hannah  Ellis  Williams  (see 
page  101).     All  of  their  children  were  born  on  this  place. 

33.  Burying  Ground  at  Baptist  Corner. 

34.  First  site  of  the  Baptist  Church,  built  about  1775.    X 

35.  Second  site  of  the  Baptist  Church,  about  sixty  rods  east  of  the  Cor- 
ner. This  church  was  built  about  1830.  A  school  house  now  stands  there. 
In  early  times  Israel  Standish  lived  about  60  rods  east  of  No.  35. 

36.  House  where  John  Sadler,  an  early  settler,  lived. 

37.  The  farm  where  George  Ranney  settled,  in  1780,  and  where  he  raised 
a  large  family.  His  son,  George  Ranney,  Jr.,  and  Henry  S.  Ranney,  Esq., 
son  of  the  latter,  were  born  and  reared  on  this  farm. 

38.  Site  of  Capt.  Samuel  Bartlett's  house,  where  the  nine  tories  were 
confined,  in  August,  1777.  This  site  should  be  marked  about  60  rods  nearer 
the  Plain  on  the  discontinued  road.  There  is  yet  to  be  seen  a  cellar-hole  at 
the  site. 

30.  Seth  Wait's  tavern  in  1783;  now  the  Episcopal  parsonage. 

40.  Capt.  Moses  Fuller's  tavern  in  1767.  Moses  Cook  has  built  and 
now  lives  on  this  site. 

41.  Timothy  Perkins' tavern  in  1778.  The  Ashfield  House,  now  kept  by 
Lewis  Porter,  Esq.,  is  on  or  near  this  site. 

42.  Chileab  Smith,  Jr.'s,  tavern  in  1786. 

43.  Jonathan  Yeoman's  house,  1767. 

44.  Peter's  Hill,  or  Mountain,  is  about  one-half  mile  west  from  this  point. 
It  is  the  highest  elevation  in  Ashfield,  being,  according  to  U.  S.  survey,  1,800 
feet  above  the  sea  and  600  feet  above  the  Plain,  or  Ashfield  village.  It  is  now 
cleared  of  trees  and  affords  some  pasturage,  and  also  grows  the  finest  and  largest 
wintergreen  berries  the  writer  has  ever  seen.     The  writer  was  misinfoimed. 


/ 


-f; 


334 

on  page  276,  about  Hon.  J.  R.  Lowell's  having  purchased  a  site  on  this  moun- 
tain for  a  summer  residence. 

45.  Ridge  Hill,  a  mountain  in  the  north  part  of  the  town. 

40.  Dea.  David  Lyon's  residence,  being  the  same  where  his  father,  Aaron 
Lyon,  settled  as  early  as  I7C5. 

Mary  Lyon's  birthplace  was  about  one  mile  north  from  her  uncle,  Dea. 
David  Lyon's.     (See  page  238). 

47.  That  part  of  Great  Pond  where  Dea.  David  Lyon  and  four  others 
were  drowned  in  1827.     (See  page  295). 

4S.  Site  of  residence  of  Dea.  Samuel  Washburn  in  1764,  and  of  his  son, 
Samuel,  Jr.  David  Ellis,  Sr.'s  wife,  Sarah  Washburn,  was  reared  on  this 
place.     (See  page  88. )     John  Pfersich  now  lives  here. 

49.  Site  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Phillips'  house  in  1765.  Capt.  Phillips  was 
the  first  town  clerk  of  Ashfield,  on  its  incorporation.  The  old  cellar-hole  is 
yet  to  be  seen  a  few  rods  south  of  the  figures  49. 

50.  The  site  of  the  residence  where  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith  lived  is  about 
80  rods  north  of  this  point.  (See  page  71).  His  younger  brother.  Elder  Enos 
Smith,  also  lived  on  this  place  or  very  near  it.  From  No.  50  north  to  the 
Buckland  town  line  is  about  one-half  mile. 

51.  Where  Rev.  Thos.  Shepard  lived  in  1820,  while  pastor  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  See  his  Sketches  of  Ashfield,  pages  275  to  297.  Before  Mr. 
Shepard  settled  in  Ashfield  he  was  a  missionary  and  teacher  in  Georgia.  After 
leaving  Ashfield,  in  1833,  he  was  agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society  about 
two  years,  when  he  was  installed  as  pastor  in  Bristol,  R.  I.,  in  1835,  where  he 
remained  in  active  and  successful  service  until  his  death,  about  1875.  This 
house  is  now  the  summer  residence  of  Prof.  C.  E.  Norton,  of  Cambridge. 

52.  Site  of  Dr.  Phineas  Bartlett's  residence  in  1765.  Dr.  Bartlett  was  a 
physician  in  Ashfield  over  40  years.  At  his  death,  it  is  said,  there  was  the 
largest  attendance  at  the  funeral  ever  known  in  the  town.  He  was  a  great 
patriot  in  Revolutionary  times.  One  of  the  seven  tories  whom  he  voted  to 
confine  in  1777  was  a  near  relative  of  his.  In  1792  Dr.  B.  built  and  lived  in 
the  house  marked  51. 

53.  Residence  of  Rev.  Nehemiah  Porter  in  1774.  This  spot  is  100  rod* 
southwest  of  where  Dr.  Bartlett  lived. 

54.  Center  Cemetery,  in  the  geographical  center  of  the  town.  In  1812 
the  Congregational  (Jhurch  was  erected  on  this  ground,  the  old  church  in  the 
cemetery  (at  23)  having  gone  to  disuse.  About  the  year  1855  there  was  a 
division  in  the  church,  and  a  part  of  the  congregation  ereated  a  new  church 
building  at  the  Plain,  on  the  north  side  of  the  main  street,  the  two  societies  of 
this  church  have  united,  and  in  1857  moved  the  church  building  from  the 
Center  Cemetery  to  the  south  side  of  the  main  street  on  the  Plain.  This  is  a 
large  and  commodious  building  and  is  now  the  Town  Hall, 

55.  Sawmill  on  White  Brook,  built  about  1828  by  Dimick  Ellis,  Asher 
Belding  and  Phineas  Flower.  Water  to  run  it  was  brought  from  Bear  River, 
in  a  race  across  the  flat,  shown  by  the  dotted  line.  This  went  to  decay  and 
disappeared  twenty  years  later. 

66.   Site  where  Israel  Phillips  lived  in  1/95. 

57.  Location  where  Dea.  John  Bement  lived  in  1759.      On  this  place 


335 

were  raised  Judge  Leonard  and  Edmund  Bement,  who  lived  in  Grand  Bapids, 
Mich.,  in  1860. 

58.  Site  where  Dea.  iRaac  Shepard  lived  in  1764.  His  daughter  Jemima 
was  the  wife  of  Aaron  Lyon,  Jr.,  and  mother  of  Mary  Lyon. 

60.  New  summer  house  of  Mrs.  John  W.  Field,  of  Philadelphia. 

Ol.  Site  of  a  Baptist  church,  built  in  1870. 

62.  Episcopal  church,  built  in  1827. 

63.  Site  of  old  house  where  lived  Thomas  White,  Esq.,  in  1794;  father 
of  Capt.  Thomas  White,  who  lived  in  Grand  Haven  and  Grand  Eapids,  Mich., 
from  about  1836  to  1880.  His  sister  Amanda,  who  married  Rev.  Wm.  M. 
Ferry,  was  born  in  this  house.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferry  were  Congregational 
missionaries  among  the  Indians  of  Mackinaw  and  Grand  Haven,  Mich.,  in 
early  times.  They  were  the  parents  of  Hon.  Thomas  White  Ferry,  U.  S.  sen- 
ator from  Michigan  many  years,  and  Vice-President  pro  tern,  previous  to  the 
inauguration  of  Hayes  and  Wheeler  in  1877.  The  old  house  was  burned  in 
February,  1820,  and  rebuilt  in  the  same  year.  It  is  directly  opposite  the 
town  hall,  and  is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Amanda  Ferry  Hall,  a  granddaughter 
of  the  original  owner. 

64.  Site  of  residence  of  Levi  Cook,  Esq.,  an  early  resident  of  Ashfield. 
It  is  now  the  summer  residence  of  Hon.  George  William  Curtis,  of  New  York 
city. 

66.  Town  Hall,  and  Soldiers'  Monument  and  Fountain  nearly  in  front 
of  it. 

66.  Residence  of  Hon.  Enos  Smith,  M.  D.,  in  1796.  Present  residence 
of  Lemuel  Cross,  Esq. 

67.  House  where  James  Ranney,  Esq.,  eldest  son  of  Jesse,  lived  from 
about  1825  to  1860. 


REGARDING  "ANGEI-S'  VISITS  "-NOTE  TO  PAGES  89  AND  90. 

By  request  the  following  comments  on  the  "Angels' visits,"  mentioned 
on  pages  89  and  90,  are  given  by  Rev.  A.  F.  Frost,  pastor  of  the  New  Jerusalem 
Church,  Detroit,  Mich. : 

The  statements  made  about  the  visits  of  angels  to  certain  members  of  the 
Ellis  family  seem  to  be  well  authenticated  and  are  of  an  exceedingly  interest- 
ing nature.  That  such  visits  are  not  only  possible,  but  to  those  in  their 
situation — cut  off,  as  they  were,  from  all  other  means  of  knowing  of  the  exist- 
of  a  God  and  a  life  after  death — it  would  appear  as  if  the  visits  were  wholly 
providential.  All  who  read  and  believe  in  the  Bible  as  a  Divine  revelation 
will  not  be  slow  to  believe  in  the  possibility  or  usefulness  of  such  visitations, 
since  the  Bible  is  full  of  accounts  of  the  people  of  all  ages  who  have  seen, 
heard  and  conversed  with  angels.  Swedenborg,  from  actual  experiences  in 
the  same  direction,  has  very  clearly  explained  what  is  said  in  the  Bible  about 
such  visits,  and  the  purpose  of  them.  In  his  work  entitled  "  The  Apocalypse 
Revealed,"  which  is  an  explanation  of  the  book  of  Revelation,  commenting  on 
the  words:  "  I  was  in  the  spirit  on  the  Lord's  Day"  (Rev.  i.  10),  Swedenborg 
says:  "This  signifies  the  spiritual  state  in  which  John  was  when  he  was  in 
visions.     Concerning  the  prophets,  it  is  written  that  they  i^ere  in  the  spirit  or  in 


336 

vision;  also,  that  the  Word  came  to  them  from  the  Lord.  When  they  were 
in  the  spirit  or  vision  they  saw  with  their  spiritual  eyes  but  not  with  their 
natural  eyes.  They  were  not  in  the  body,  but  in  their  spirit,  in  which  state 
they  saw  such  things  as  are  in  heaven.  In  the  state  of  vision  the  eyes  of  their 
spirit  were  opened,  and  the  eyes  of  their  body  shut;  and  then  they  heard  what 
the  angels  spake,  or  what  the  Lord  spake  by  the  angels,  and  also  saw  the  things 
which  were  represented  to  them  in  heaven;  and  then  they  sometimes  seemed 
to  themselves  to  be  carried  from  one  place  to  another,  the  body  still  remaining 
in  its  place.  In  this  state  was  John  when  he  wrote  the  Apocalypse;  and 
sometimes,  also  Ezekiel,  Zechariah  and  Daniel;  and  then  it  is  said  that  they  were 
in  vision,  or  in  the  spirit.  Ezekiel  says:  "The  spirit  took  me  up  and  brought 
me  in  a  vision  by  the  Spirit  of  God  into  Chaldea;  so  the  vision  that  I  had  seen 
went  up  from  me" — xi.  1,  2,  4.  It  is  also  said  that  the  spirit  took  him  up, 
and  that  he  heard  behind  him  a  voice  of  a  great  rushing,  and  other  things — iii. 
12,  24;  also,  that  the  spirit  lifted  him  up  between  the  earth  and  heaven  and 
brought  him,  in  the  visions  of  God,  to  Jerusalem — viii.  3.  The  same  was  the 
case  with  Zechariah,  with  whom  there  was  an  angel  at  the  time  when  he  saw 
a  man  riding  among  the  myrtle  trees — i.  8;  when  he  saw  a  man  in  whose 
hand  was  a  measuring  line — ii.  1.  5;  when  he  saw  Joshua  the  High  Priest — iii. 
1;  when  he  saw  the  candlestick  and  the  two  olive  trees— iv.  1.  In  a  similar 
state  was  Daniel,  when  he  saw  four  beasts  coming  up  out  of  the  sea — vii.  I; 
when  he  saw  the  battle  of  the  ram  and  the  he  goat — viii.  1,  which  things  he 
says  he  saw  in  visions.  It  was  the  same  with  John,  as  when  he  saw  the  Son 
of  Man  in  the  midst  of  the  seven  golden  candlesticks,  when  he  saw  a  throne, 
a  book  sealed  with  seven  seals,  four  horses  coming  out  of  the  book,  when  he 
heard  the  seven  angels  sound  with  the  seven  trumpets,  when  he  saw  the  dragon, 
the  two  beasts,  the  great  whore,  the  white  horse,  the  new  heaven  and  the  new 
earth,  and  the  New  Jerusalem.  All  these  things  he  says  he  saw  in  the  spirit 
and  in  vision — i.  10;  iv.  2;  ix.  17.  It  appears,  evidently,  from  these  examples, 
that  to  be  in  the  spirit  is  to  be  in  vision ;  which  is  effected  by  the  opening  of 
the  sight  of  a  man's  spirit,  when  the  things  in  the  spiritual  world  appear  as 
clearly  as  the  things  in  the  natural  world  appear  to  bodily  sight.  I  can  testify 
that  it  is  so  from  many  years'  experience.  In  this  state  the  disciples  were 
when  they  saw  the  Lord  after  his  resurrection,  wherefore  it  is  said  that  their 
•eyes  were  opened — Luke  xxiv.  30,  31.  Abraham  was  in  a  similar  state  when 
he  saw  the  three  augels  and  talked  with  them.  So  were  Hagar,  (iideon, 
Joshua  and  others,  when  they  saw  angels.  In  like  manner  the  lad  with  Eli- 
sha,  when  he  saw  the  chariots  of  tire  and  horses  about  Elisha;  for  Elisha  prayed 
«nd  said:  "O  Lord,  I  pray  thee,  open  his  eyes,  that  he  may  see;  and  the  Lord 
-opened  the  eyes  of  the  young  man,  and  he  saw" — 2  Kings,  vi.  17. 

This  will  easily  explain  the  process  of  all  genuine  visions,  where  persons 
have  seen,  heard  and  talked  with  angels.  Every  man,  as  to  his  interiors,  is  a 
«pirit,  and  is  surrounded  by  and  in  association  with  spirits  and  angels  in  the 
spiritual  world,  although  not  ordinarily  conscious  of  it.  The  spirit  of  man  has 
-eyes,  ears,  tongue,  hands,  feet,  and  all  the  other  organs  of  the  human  frame, 
since  the  spirit  is  in  a  substantial  human  form.  The  eyes  and  ears  of  the  spirit 
may  be  opened  by  the  Lonl  whenever  He  sees  that  it  is  for  some  good  and 
useful  purpose.  This  frequently  happens  with  those  who  are  dying.  They 
■nee  those  in  the  spiritual  world  with  the  eyes  of  the  spirit,  and  are  filled  with 


337 

rapture  at  the  thought  of  soon  joining  them.  The  organs  of  the  spirit  of  man 
are  in  a  perfect  state,  however  imperfect  or  deformed  are  the  organs  of  the 
body.  On  their  entrance  into  the  spiritual  world,  those  who  had  been  blind, 
deaf,  dumb  or  lame  here,  would  at  once  see,  hear,  speak  and  walk.  And  if 
the  spirit  of  those  deaf  and  dumb  should  be  opened  while  they  were  living  in 
the  body,  they  could  perfectly  hear  and  speak  the  language  of  the  spiritual 
world,  which  is  a  universal  language,  is  interiorly  impressed  upon  the  spirit  of 
every  one;  and  hence  all  understand  all  in  the  other  life,  whatever  may  have 
been  their  nationality  or  language  in  this  world.  It  is  perfectly  reasonable  to 
believe  that  the  deaf  and  dumb  persons  of  the  Ellis  family  saw,  heard  and 
talked  with  the  angels;  and  that  deaf  and  dumb  persons  could  speak  with  each 
other,  provided  both  were  in  the  spirit  at  the  same  time.  The  disciples  talked 
with  the  Lord,  and  He  with  them,  after  the  resurrection,  when  the  Lord  was 
in  the  spiritual  world,  and  the  interiors  of  the  disciples  must  have  been  opened;, 
for,  otherwise,  they  could  not  have  done  this.  Also  in  the  mount  of  trans6g- 
uration,  when  Peter,  James  and  John  were  in  vision  and  saw  the  Lord  in  glory,, 
they  also  saw  and  heard  and  spake  with  Moses  and  Elias,  and  likewise  talked 
with  each  other.  This  would  be  just  as  perfectly  the  case  with  persons  wha 
were  deaf,  blind  and  dumb  as  to  the  body,  since  an  impaired  condition  of  the 
bodily  senses  does  not  extend  to  the  spirit  of  man  at  all.  As  there  was  no 
sign  language,  or  other  means  of  instruction  for  the  deaf  and  dumb,  in  the  dayfr 
when  these  members  of  the  Ellis  family  lived,  there  was  no  other  way  for 
them  to  know  anything  about  God,  religion  and  the  life  after  death,  than  by 
some  such  direct  communication  with  angels  as  it  is  related  took  place.  Th& 
Lord  gave  them  these  opportunities,  which  are  denied  men  ordinarily,  because 
most  men  can  read  the  Bible  and  hear  preaching  and  by  these  means  learn 
spiritual  truth.  That  Jonathan  Ellis  had  both  his  speech  and  hearing  when 
under  angelic  influence  is  easily  explained,  therefore,  since  both  the  tongue 
and  ears  would  be  controlled  from  an  internal  influence  and  power,  and  not  by 
an  external  power,  as  is  ordinarily  the  case.  The  angel  that  stood  in  the  way 
of  Balaam  caused  it  to  appear  that  even  the  dumb  ass  spake.  This  was  only 
the  appearance,  however,  as  the  angel  himself,  and  not  the  ass,  spake;  but 
Balaam  was  so  obstinate  that  he  could  not  listen  to  the  angel;  he  could  be 
brought  to  consider  his  situation  only  when  startled  by  the  remarkable 
appearance  that  he  was  being  reproved  by  his  ass.  Although  at  times,, 
and  for  special  reasons,  men  may  see  and  speak  with  angels,  yet  the  orderly 
way  of  receiving  instruction  in  spiritual  truth  is  by  means  of  the  Scriptures. 
It  is  disorderly,  dangerous,  and  forbidden  us  in  the  Bible,  to  seek  intercourse 
with  the  inhabitants  of  the  spiritual  world,  or  to  come  into  communication  with 
the  dead.  Under  no  circumstances  of  our  seeking  will  any  good  spirit  or  angel 
appear  to  us.  The  spirits  that  operate  by  speaking,  writing  or  other  manifesta- 
tions through  modern  mediums,  are  always  evil  spirits,  of  a  low  and  sensual 
nature,  who  deceive  and  flatter,  and  lead  men  away  from  the  Lord,  heaven, 
the  church  and  the  Bible.  As  in  the  case  of  the  members  of  the  Ellis  family 
there  was  no  effort  on  their  part  to  pry  into  spiritual  mysteries,  but  a  real 
need  because  of  their  inability  to  speak  or  hear,  that  they  should  learn  about 
(iod,  religion  and  the  future  outside  of  the  ordinary  means,  it  is  reasonable  to 
believe  that  what  is  related  of  their  angelic  visitants  is  true. 


335 


BRIEF  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  LIFE  AND  TRIALS  OF   ELDER  EBENEZER 
SMITH,  OF  ASHFIELD,  MASS WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF. 

^Elder  Smith  was  a  sod  in-law  of  Richard  Ellis,  of  AshBeld.  For  an 
account  of  him  see  page  71.  The  manuscript  from  which  the  following 
article  is  printed  was  sent  the  writer  by  Dr.  A.  P.  Phillips,  of  Fredonia,  N.  Y., 
whose  wife  is  a  great  granddaughter  of  Elder  Smith.     See  page  98.] 

"Come  and  bear,  all  y«  that  fear  God,  and  I  will  declare  what  He  hath  done  for  my 

80Ul." 

"  One  generation  shall  praise  Thy  works  to  another,  and  shall  declare  Thy  mighty  acts." 

[David. 

Having  been  requested  to  write  some  of  the  experiences  I  have  met  with 
in  my  life,  I  did  not  conclude  to  do  it  until  I  received  a  letter  from  a  much 
esteemed  friend  in  which  was  the  following:  "  I  read  your  letter  at  the  meeting 
of  our  Missionary  Board,  and  the  members  expressed  a  wish  that  you  would 
commit  to  writing  the  most  remarkable  circumstances  of  your  life,  and  the 
observations  you  have  made  from  time  to  time  relative  to  the  cause  and  church 
of  Christ.  You  have  outlived  most  of  your  cotemporaries;  of  course,  you  have 
more  experience  of  the  ways  of  God  than  many  of  your  junior  brethren;  you 
have  also  experienced  many  trials  which  most  of  us  have  been  exempted  from. 
I  hope,  dear  sir,  whUe  your  health  and  powers  of  mind  hold  out,  you  will 
devote  a  little  of  your  precious  time  to  this  labor  of  love,  for  the  good  of  the 
cause  and  for  the  benefit  of  -hose  who  may  follow  after  you." 

Upon  receiving  this  letter  1  thought  it  my  duty  to  enter  upon  the  work, 
concerning  which,  I  would  observe  that  I  am  now  almost  eighty-six  years  old, 
and  1  have  nothing  to  write  from  but  my  memory,  but  I  shall  be  careful  not  to 
write  anything  but  what  I  am  sure  is  the  truth.  Perhaps,  in  writing  what 
was  said  many  years  ago,  I  shall  not  always  use  the  same  words,  but  I  shall  be 
very  careful  to  give  the  true  sense. — Stockton,  Chautauqua  Co.,  X.  Y.,  Aug. 
29,  1820. 

I  was  bom  in  South  Hadley,  Mass.,  October  4,  1734.  There  was  but  very 
little  schooling  for  anyone  in  my  young  days.  I  went  to  a  woman's  school  a 
little  while  and  learned  to  read,  and  afterwards  to  a  man's  school  and  learned 
to  write,  which  was  all  the  teaching  I  had  except  what  I  received  at  my 
father's  house.  I  could  read  pretty  well,  could  write  so  as  it  might  be  read, 
and  had  a  knowledge  of  arithmetic  sufficient  for  the  business  of  a  common 
farmer,  but  never  saw  a  grammar  till  I  bought  one  for  my  own  children. 

In  my  seventeenth  year  my  father  removed  to  Ashfield.  There  were  but 
two  families  in  the  town  before  him.  I  had  serious  impressions  on  my  mind 
when  very  young  and,  by  turns,  throughout  my  youthful  days;  at  times  would 
be  light  and  merry  with  my  mates,  but  never  went  to  what  was  then  called  a 
frolic.  After  we  removed  to  Ashfield  [then  Huntstown]  my  father  proposed 
to  the  neighbors  to  meet  together  on  the  Sabbath  for  religions  worship;  they 
assented,  and  my  father  took  the  lead  in  the  worship.  1  was  under  deep  con- 
cern of  mind  until  in  the  month  of  March,  1753  (I  do  not  remember  the  day 
of  the  month,  but  the  place  where  and  the  time  of  the  day — between  sundown 
and  dark),  as  I  was  looking  to  Ood  alone,  as  a  poor,  guilty  sinner,  I  was 
enabled  to  give  myself  into  the  hands  of  a  just  God,  and  a  peace  and  joy  fol- 
lowed which  I  never  knew  before. 


339 

I  cannot  tell  of  such  views  of  the  flames  of  hell,  and  of  Christ  hanging  on 
the  cross  as  I  have  heard  others  relate,  but  my  understanding  was  led  to  see 
the  holiness  of  God's  law  and  my  utter  inability  to  do  anything  to  recommend 
myself  to  Him;  and  I  also  saw  the  infinite  fullness  of  the  Savior's  merits — 
that  pardon  could  be  had  through  His  atoning  blood,  and  justification  through 
His  spotless  righteousness.  And  this  is  all  my  hope;  whatever  becomes  of  me 
at  last,  I  can  only  plead:  "God  be  merciful  to  me,  a  sinner;"  and  I  believe  it 
will  be  infinitely  safe  to  be  in  this  way. 

I  now  began,  as  opportunity  offered,  to  speak  of  the  things  of  God.  In 
the  course  of  the  summer  my  mind  was  led  to  particular  texts  of  Scripture 
that  would  open  to  my  view.  This  one  often  came  to  mind:  "As  every  man 
hath  received  the  gift,  so  let  him  minister  the  same;"  but  I  am  but  a  child;  how 
can  I  speak  to  those  who  are  so  much  older  than  I  ?  To  this  self -questioning 
the  answer  would  return:  "As  every  man  hath  received  the  gift,"  followed  by 
"  Lo,  I  am  with  you."  So  I  labored  along  under  these  trials  until  November. 
On  the  29th  day  of  that  month  1  was  called  upon  in  such  a  manner  that  I 
could  no  longer  refrain,  and  attempted  to  preach  unto  the  people.  From  that 
day  to  this — sixty-seven  years  next  November — I  have  endeavored  to  improve 
and  to  sjieak  forth  the  truth  according  to  my  ability.  I  must  new  begin  to 
relate  some  of  the  trials  in  my  experience. 

The  next  summer  after  this  beginning  I  was  requested  to  go  and  preach 
in  another  town.  A  great  number  assembled  to  hear;  the  minister  of  the 
town,  and  another  scholarly  man  who  had  just  begun  to  preach,  were  present, 
and  they  both  remained  seated  during  prayer.  The  minister  several  times 
interrupted  my  discourse,  but  the  rest  of  the  people  behaved  orderly.  After 
the  meeting  the  minister  asked  me  what  a  butler  was.  I  answered:  a  "cup- 
bearer." He  said  I  used  the  word  "butler"  instead  of  "  buckler,"  in  my  dis- 
course. I  cannot  say  but  I  might  have  made  such  a  slip,  and  a  few  years  after- 
wards mj'  utterance  at  the  time  alluded  to  was  ridiculed  in  the  public  prints 
by  him.  A  further  example  of  the  minister's  treatment  of  me  was  as  follows: 
In  praying  for  the  ministers  of  Christ  I  used  these  words:  "  That  they  may 
stand  in  their  lot. "  In  his  talk  after  the  meeting  he  asked:  "In  what  lot 
must  ministers  stand  in — home  lot  or  second  division  lot?  "  His  whole  con- 
duct was  in  this  line  of  mockery.  I  have  ever  been  grateful  that  through  the 
goodness  of  God  I  was  enabled — young  as  I  was,  and  among  strangers — to  go 
through  with  my  discourse. 

Soon  after  this  the  war  of  1756  broke  out,  and  for  two  summers  we  were 
forced  to  leave  town  from  fear  of  the  Indians.  I  was  called  to  go  into 
the  army  for  about  three  months,  and  then  we  built  a  fort  [at  Ashfield  or  Huntg- 
town]  and  had  some  men  sent  to  guard  us.  So  we  lived  in  the  fort  in  the 
summer  for  three  summers,  and  in  our  own  houses  in  the  winter.  We  were 
in  a  broken  situation  at  that  time,  but  I  still  continued  to  preach,  when  there 
was  time  for  it. 

I  was  brought  up  to  believe  that  sprinkling  infants  was  baptism,  and 
never  had  much  thought  but  such  was  right,  until  I  was  married  and  had  a 
child  of  my  own,  then  I  thought  more  about  it.  I  had  never  seen  a  Baptist 
nor  a  Baptist's  writings.  I  heard  there  were  Baptists,  but  they  were  spoken 
of  as  a  deluded  people,  and  my  further  inquiries  about  the  ordinance  of  baptism 
led  me  to  conclude  that  the  subject  was  left  in  the  dark — there  was  nothing 


340 

certain  about  it,  and  I  might  accept  what  my  father  had  done  for  me,  and  let 
that  f^o  for  my  baptism;  but  I  oonld  not  get  my  own  children  baptised.  O 
what  blindness ! 

In  April,  1761,  a  Baptist  elder  came  into  town  on  business.  Inviting  him 
to  my  house,  I  desired  him  to  tell  me  how  he  came  to  be  a  Baptist,  and  I  found 
that  he  was  settled  and  unshaken  in  regard  to  that  ordinance,  whereas  I  had 
thought  that  nobody  could  be  certain  whether  he  was  right  or  not.  After  dis- 
covering that  one  could  be  established  in  regard  to  that  ordinance,  I  came  to 
the  determination  to  search  carefully  at  once  as  to  what  was  right,  and  I  can 
truly  say  that  I  could  not  find,  then  nor  since,  that  I  had  the  least  choice  but 
to  accept  the  truth;  and  this  Scripture  came  to  me  with  great  solemnity:  "  Let 
God  be  true,  and  every  man  a  liar."  I  went  to  my  Bible;  I  read  no  other 
book;  1  said  nothing  to  any  man  till  I  had  become  settled  beyond  doubt,  that 
believers  in  Christ,  and  none  other,  had  any  right  to  that  ordinance;  and  that 
to  be  buried  in  the  water,  and  raised  out  ol  it,  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  is  the  only  Gospel  baptism. 

And  now  I  was  brought  to  see  the  reason  why  I  was  so  long  in  the  dark 
about  that  ordinance.  It  was  because  I  let  the  traditions  of  men  be  of  weight 
in  the  balance  with  the  word  of  God.  And  1  am  persuaded  that  every  true 
believer  in  Christ  that  reads  the  Bible,  if  he  has  but  a  single  eye,  will  let  that 
doctrine  of  Antichrist — that  sprinkling  infants  is  baptism — go,  and  embrace 
the  pure  ordinance  of  Christ;  delivered  to  "the  saints;  for  Christ  saith:  "If 
thine  eye  be  single,  thy  whole  body  shall  be  full  of  light;"  and  He  will  fulfill 
His  word. 

Making  my  mind  known  to  my  friends  I  found  some  who  had  a  desire  to 
be  baptised;  and  I  knew  of  but  one  elder  on  earth  that  we  could  apply  to, 
and  he  was  sixty  miles  away;  but  I  went  to  him  with  my  errand,  and  he 
came,  with  one  of  his  brethren,  and  baptised  seven  one  day,  and  one  the 
next  day;  and  there  was  one  of  that  elder's  members  who  had  moved  into  the 
town  a  little  before;  he  joined  us,  making  our  number  nine.  We  formed  a 
church,  the  elder  gave  us  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  administered  the 
Lord's  supper. 

It  made  a  great  tumult  among  the  people.  Such  a  thing  was  never  heard 
of  in  that  part  of  the  country  before.  All  manner  of  evil  was  said  about  us; 
and  we  a  feeble  band  and  no  friends  near  us.  But  he  that  is  a  sanctuary 
to  His  people  through  His  grace  we  were  enabled  to  keep  our  ground,  and 
the  church  gave  me  a  call  to  be  ordained  and  to  become  their  pastor.  We 
sent  to  the  same  elder  (60  miles),  and  to  another  elder  (90  miles),  and  to  a 
church  that  had  no  elder  (90  miles),  they  came,  and  I  was  ordained  August 
20,  1761. 

From  this  time  the  Lord  carried  on  His  work,  and  additions  were  made 
to  the  church.  One  thing  that  took  place  a  few  months  after  my  ordination  I 
will  mention,  as  perhaps  it  may  do  good:  There  came  a  young  man  from  a 
distance  of  ninety  miles,  in  order  to  be  baptised.  He  went  to  meeting  with 
me,  but  when  it  came  time  for  him  to  tell  his  experience  he  was  so  dark  in  his 
mind  that  he  could  not  do  it.  I  pitied  the  young  man,  and  took  him  with  me 
to  my  house.  After  some  conversation,  I  told  the  young  man  that  I  could  tell 
what  the  difficulty  was  with  him  that  kept  him  so  in  the  dark:  You  live  near 
one  of  the  elders  that  attended  my  ordination;  some  of  his  church  live  in  the 


341 

same  town  with  you,  and  you  could  not  bear  to  take  up  the  cross  or  be  bap- 
tised among  your  old  acquaintances,  so  you  come  up  here  into  the  woods  to  be 
baptised  and  shun  the  cross.  He  freely  confessed  that  to  be  the  very  reason 
of  his  coming,  and  he  soon  had  such  light  and  comfort  in  his  soul  that  he  de- 
cided to  return  home  and  be  baptised  among  his  own  people.  The  next  I 
heard  of  him  he  was  baptised  and  preaching  the  Gospel,  and  became  a  worthy 
minister  of  Christ. 

If  we  mean  to  be  Christ's  friends  we  must  deny  ourselves  and  take  up  the 
cross. 

When  1  was  ordained  above  half  the  people  that  were  then  in  the  town 
were  agreed  in  it  and  attended  my  ministry;  but,  the  war  being  over,  the  Pedo- 
baptists  [believers  in  infant  baptism]  came  into  the  town,  and  in  1763  they 
settled  a  minister.  There  were  300  acres  of  land  for  the  first  minister  who 
settled  in  the  town.  They  took  all  that  and  did  not  let  me  have  one  foot  of  it. 
There  were  300  more,  the  use  of  which  was  for  the  support  of  the  minister, 
which  was  rented  out  to  the  utter  exclusion  of  the  Baptists.  The  General 
Court  made  a  law  that  all  the  land  in  town  might  be  taxed  to  pay  the  Pedo- 
baptist  minister  and  build  their  meeting-house;  and  if  any  did  not  pay,  the 
land  could  be  sold  to  obtain  the  tax.  We  ^sent  a  petition  to  the  Court  for 
relief,  and,  not  being  heard,  we  all  agreed  that  we  would  not  pay  the  tax,  let 
what  would  oome  of  it.  In  the  month  of  April,  1770  they  came  forward  with  a 
tax  of  £507  for  their  minister  and  meeting-house,  and  began  selling  our  lands. 
They  sold  about  400  acres  in  all — ten  acres  of  my  home  lot,  that  were  worth 
ten  dollars  an  acre.  The  man  came  with  a  surveyor  and  a  band  of  men,  to 
measure  it  off.  My  little  son,  about  four  years  old,  came  crying  to  me,  say- 
ing: "  Father,  has  the  man  come  to  take  away  our  land?"  I  saw  the  man 
next  day,  who  told  me  to  go  and  put  up  half  the  fence  between  us  and  he 
would  put  up  the  other  half.  I  replied:  no,  there  should  be  no  fence  put 
there;  if  he  had  a  mind  to  sue  me  for  the  land  I  would  stand  trial,  and  see  who 
had  the  best  right  to  it :  but  come  on  it  he  should  not — and  I  have  never  seen 
his  face  since.  To  be  short  about  the  matter,  I  went  five  times  to  Boston  to 
try  to  get  that  law  repealed,  but  failed  in  my  errand.  Other  trials  of  those  try- 
ing days  are  worth  mention  :  One  day,  when  Col.  Dexter  and  some  other  mem- 
bers of  the  Court  desired  to  seemy- ordination,  the  record  was  shown  him;  he 
read  it  over  and  said:  "  This  looks  like  an  ordination  '  according  to  the  pattern 
shown  in  the  mount.'  " 

Once,  when  the  matter  was  being  debated  in  Court,  Col.  Bowers  said  he 
would  "  not  call  it  highway  robbery,  but  if  such  things  were  done  on  the  high 
*eas,  he  would  call  it  piracy." 

One  morning  X  went  to  see  Col.  Tyler.  He  was  unable  to  go  to  the  Court 
that  day,  but  he  wrote  a  letter  for  me  to  carry  to  Dexter,  to  have  him  help 
me,  and  in  the  letter  he  said:   "They  are  devilishly  oppressed." 

Discoursing  with  a  number  of  the  Court  one  day,  one  of  them  said:  "Sup- 
pose eight  or  ten  Baptists  go  into  a  new  town  and  settle  a  minister,  and  then 
the  other  order  are  not  able  to  settle  a  minister  without  the  Baptists'  help, 
must  they  do  without  a  minister  because  there  are  eight  or  ten  Baptists  there?" 
I  replied:  "The  Court  allows  sixty  proprietors  to  every  new  town.  Now  ten 
Baptists  go  in  and  settle  a  minister,  and  the  fifty  cannot  settle  their  minister 


342 

without  the  ten  support  their  own  minister  and  help  the  fifty  support  theirs, 
too.     Do  look  at  it!'' 

While  these  things  were  goin^  on  there  appeared  an  article  in  public  print, 
said  to  have  come  from  a  minister  residing  near  Ashfield,  in  which  the  writer 
says:  "  It  is  a  common  observation  that  the  Baptists  in  Ashfield  will  not  stick 
at  any  falsehood,  to  serve  their  purposes;"  and  to  prove  his  charge,  he  says 
that  we  say  in  our  petition  to  the  Court:  "  there  are  £507  pounds  raised  for  the 
minister  and  the  meeting  house,  whereas  £100  were  for  highways."  A* heavy 
charge;  to  come  from  a  minister,  too,  and  from  one  that  lived  near  us.  I 
thought  it  time  to  appear  in  my  own  and  my  brethren's  defence.  I  sent  to 
the  Clerk  and  got  a  copy  of  the  vote  for  raising  money,  and  went  right  down 
to  Boston  and  put  an  answer  into  the  same  paper,  just  four  weeks  after  the 
other  article  appeared. 

I  said,  in  my  answer:  "We  did  in  our  petition  say  that  the  sum  of  £507 
was  raised  for  the  minister  and  meeting-house;  then,  he  adds  that  '  £100  was 
for  highways,'  which  is  a  notorious  falsehood.  That  £100  was  raised  for  high- 
ways I  well  knew,  but  it  was  no  part  of  the  £507  for  the  minister  and  meeting- 
house; and,  to  satisfy  the  public,  here  follows  a  copy  of  the  votes,  attested  by 
the  clerk,  that  said  £507  are  for  the  minister  and  meeting-house  and  £100  for 
highways."     I  heard  no  more  of  that  charge. 

The  last  time  that  I  went  down  to  the  Court  at  Boston,  one  of  the  men 
who  sold  our  land  also  went  down  to  meet  me  there.  The  Court  chose  a  com- 
mittee of  five  men,  with  Col.  Brattle  as  their  chairman.  We  pleaded  our 
cause  before  them  and  left  it  for  them  to  make  their  report.  Col.  Bowers  told 
me  that  his  affairs  were  such  that  he  thought  he  must  go  home.  I  desired  he 
would  stay  till  the  committee  reported.  He  replied  that  if  his  going  would  be 
any  damage  to  me,  he  would  stay  if  it  cost  him  £100.  Accordingly  he  did 
stay.  I  cannot  tell  the  very  words  of  the  report,  but  the  substance  of  it  was, 
that  in  the  sale  of  our  lands  there  was  nothing  unjust,  but  all  was  right  and 
we  had  sufiFered  no  wrong;  and,  notwithstanding  all  my  friends  could  say,  the 
Court  accepted  the  report.  Thus  were  we  left  by  an  act  of  the  Government 
in  the  hands  of  our  neighbors,  who  might  tax  and  sell  just  as  much  of  our  land 
as  they  pleased.  This  looked  like  a  dark  day,  but  I  had  this  for  my  support, 
that  there  is  a  '  God  in  heaven  that  governed  the  affairs  of  men. ' 

By  the  help  of  some  friends  the  matter  was  sent  over  to  the  King.  Thi» 
was  in  April.  The  King's  order  came  the  same  year,  in  October.  I  suppose 
there  were  but  three  men  in  the  country  who  knew  it  had  gone  to  the  King,  till 
his  order  came,  by  which  order  he  overthrew  the  sale  under  our  law,  and  put 
a  stop  to  their  taxing  us  any  more.  This  was  "  good  news  from  a  far  countrj', ' 
and  rejoiced  the  hearts  of  my  afBicted  brethren. 

Perhaps  the  reader  will  ask  how  I  was  exercised  in  mind  by  the  tryinf{ 
circumstances  of  these  times.  I  can  say  that  I  viewed  them  to  be  of  the  prov- 
idence of  God — that  He  cast  my  lot  where  it  was,  and  that  it  was  the  cause  of 
truth  that  I  was  callad  upon,  according  to  my  ability,  to  defend;  and  being  in 
the  path  of  duty  I  had  God  to  go  to;  and,  having  His  fear  before  my  eyes, 
creatures  vanished  from  sight;  that  I  felt  under  obligations  to  speak  my  mind- 
plainly,  before  high  and  low.  At  that  time  there  was  much  said  about  liberty, 
and  the  people  in  this  land  was  complaining  of  Britain's  oppression.  One  day^ 
when  I  was  discoursing,  with  a  number  of  the  members  of  the  Court,  they 


343 

pleaded  for  their  right  to  tax  the  Baptists,  and  that  they  could  not  support 
their  ministers  without  the  Baptists'  help.  I  say  the  truth — I  lie  not;  my 
spirit  was  stirred  within  me;  not  with  anger,  but  with  an  abhorence  of  such 
tyranny;  and  with  a  zeal  for  the  cause  of  truth,  and  to  defend  my  oppressed, 
brethren,  I  told  them  they  were  calling  themselves  the  sons  of  liberty  and  were 
erecting  their  liberty  poles  about  the  country,  but  they  did  not  deserve  the 
name,  for  it  was  evident  all  they  wanted  was  liberty  from  oppression  that  they 
might  have  liberty  to  oppress  I 

I  was  told  that  the  man  who  went  down  to  meet  me  before  the  Court  said 
to  his  neighbors,  after  he  came  home,  that  "  Elder  Smith  would  speak  the 
truth,  let  the  consequences  be  what  they  would." 

In  those  days  of  trial  1  received  many  favors  from  my  brethren  in  and 
about  Boston,  which  I  have  not  forgotten.  But  they  are  now  mostly  all,  if 
not  all,  gone  home  to  glory,  I  trust;  while  I,  poor  and  unworthy,  yet  continue 
in  this  vale  of  tears.  O  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  be  faithful  unto  death.  But 
to  return  to  my  narrative: 

The  brethren  in  Newport  sent  a  request  to  me  to  come  and  see  them;  and 
a  little  after  the  King's  order  came  into  the  town,  and  we  had  gained  my 
brethren's  liberty,  I  went  to  see  them. 

As  I  was  on  my  way  home  I  met  one  of  my  acquaintances,  in  a  town  where 
I  intended  to  tarry  over  the  Sabbath,  and  he  told  me  that  since  1  had  left 
home  they  had  sent  out  a  warrant  to  take  me  for  counterfeiting  money.  I  told 
him  I  never  was  afraid  to  travel  the  Kings  highway,  and  I  should  not  turn  out 
for  that  noise.  He  said  they  would  take  me  as  soon  as  I  got  home,  or  before. 
I  went  on  to  where  I  intended  to  put  up.  When  my  friend  saw  me  come  in, 
he  said:  "Are  you  here?  I  just  now  heard  that  you  were  in  Springfield  jail 
for  counterfeiting  money!"  I  told  him  it  was  not  worth  while  for  me  to  say 
anything  about  it,  for  people  would  reply  that  if  I  would  counterfeit  money  I 
would  deny  it;  but  you  know  that  I  am  not  in  Springfield  jail,  because  you  see 
me  here. 

He  sent  out  to  let  the  people  know  that  I  was  come.  I  did  not  see  but 
there  came  as  many  to  hear  me  preach  as  ever  before  when  I  had  been  there. 
As  I  went  on  my  way  home  there  was  a  great  stir  about  the  affair,  but  I  got 
home  the  day  I  meant  to,  and  they  never  showed  me  the  warrant.  May  God 
have  the  glory. 

[It  is  astonishing  to  what  indignities  the  Baptists  were  subjected  during 
these  times,  especially  Mr.  Chileab  Smith,  Sr.,  the  father  of  Elder  Ebenezer 
Smith.  Mr.  Smith  was  the  third  settler  in  Ashfield,  and  was  the  most  noted 
resident  of  the  town  for  thirty  years  or  more.  He  was  an  ardent  Baptist,  and 
was  ordained  into  the  ministry  when  80  years  of  age.  He  died  in  1800,  in  his 
93d  year.  In  the  year  1771,  in  the  midst  of  the  persecutions  mentioned  above, 
it  was  reported  that  he  "had  put  ofiF  a  bad  dollar  "  upon  a  Mr.  Pike,  a  resident; 
and  although  Mr.  Pike  said  that  "there  was  no  truth  in  the  report,"  Mr. 
Smith  was  arrested  and  taken  before  the  Judge  of  the  Court  at  Hatfield,  twenty 
miles  away.  Ten  witnesses  were  summoned  and  no  evidence  was  found  against 
him,  yet  the  Judge  was  very  insulting,  and  held  him  to  bail  in  a  sum  so  large 
that  he  supposed  Mr.  Smith  could  not  procure  it,  and  hence  could  be  kept  in 
jail  a  few  months.  The  result  was,  as  he  himself  stated,  that  "  he  was  greatly 
injured  in  his  health  and  lost  most  of  a  winter's  work."     It  turned  out  that 


344 

his  arrest  was  mainly  dne  to  the  fact  that  smoke  was  seen,  by  jealous  persons, 
to  issue  from  the  chimney  of  bis  shop  on  Sundays,  where  he  had  built  a  fire  to 
warm  those  who  came  to  his  house  to  attend  meetings — Baptist  meetings  for 
fleveral  ye&n  being  held  at  his  house.  Previous  to  this,  his  orchard  had  been 
torn  up  and  twenty  acres  of  his  best  land  sold,  to  pay  taxes  to  another  minister 
and  for  building  the  meeting-house  of  another  denomination.  "  His  house  was 
searched;  and  when  he  went  abroad  about  his  lawful  business  his  track  was  pur- 
•flued,  to  see  if  they  could  not  find  some  evil  thing  done  by  him."  His  people 
were  taunted  with  the  saying:  "  W^hen  the  negroes  get  free,  then  the  Baptists 
may,"  &c.  In  all  the  trials  to  which  these  people  were  subjected  they  were 
fully  vindicated;  and  the  verdict,  finally,  of  all  who  ever  knew  Chileab  Smith, 
Sr.,  the  champion  of  the  Baptists,  was:  "  that  he  was  as  honest  a  man  as  ever 
lived."  He  never  wavered  in  his  faith  or  purposes,  and  could  have  gone  to  the 
stake  with  as  much  heroism  as  any  martyr  of  old.  He  was  the  human  embodi- 
ment of  that  inspiration  which  at  Baptist  Comer  gained  for  religious  freedom 
one  of  the  greatest  victories  in  the  world's  history.  Yet,  for  one  of  the  present 
time  who  looks  over  these  "rock-ribbed  and  sterile  hills,"  now  mostly  deserted, 
the  wonder  is,  how  these  hardy  pioneers  gained  a  bodily  subsistence,  even.  The 
name  and  fame  of  Chilkab  Smith,  Sr.,  should  be  perpetuated  forever  among 
men,  and  a  monument  erected  to  his  memory  on  the  sanctified  ground  of  Baptist 
Corner.  Some  future  generation  will  do  this.  — It  may  be  said  that  the  odium 
which  was  sought  to  be  cast  upon  the  Baptist  people  by  other  denominations 
continued  for  thirty  years  later,  until  the  time  when  that  great  missionary, 
Adoniram  Judson,  was  sent  out  from  Massachusetts  to  India^in  1812  to  con- 
vert the  heathen.  On  his  passage  to  that  country  he  investigated  Baptist 
doctrines,  and  soon  after  his  arrival  announced  his  conversion  thereto.  This 
was  the  end  of  the  persecution  of  the  Baptists  in  this  country,  the  humiliation 
of  their  opponents  being  complete.     See  page  324.  ] 

And  now  they  took  another  method  to  annoy  me:  They  put  me  into  the 
civil  tax  three  years  going;  made  up  the  tax  and  put  the  collection  thereof 
into  the  hands  of  three  collectors.  One  of  them  called  on  me  to  pay.  I  told 
him  I  should  not  pay,  and  forbade  his  taking  anything  of  mine;  I  agreed  not  to 
go  out  of  his  way,  so  that  he  might  take  me  if  he  would,  but  meddle  with  my 
property  he  must  not.  Before  he  distrained  on  me  another  Elder  in  the  county 
was  taxed  in  the  same  manner,  who  sued  the  town  for  his  right,  in  the  Su- 
preme Court  at  Northampton,  and  gained  his  case.  These  three  collectors 
were  present  at  that  trial,  and  never  again  called  on  me  to  pay  the  tax. 

Concerning  this  affair  I  would  make  the  following  remark:  The  assessors 
who  made  up  the  tax  were  under  oath  to  proceed  according  to  law.  The  law 
forbade  taxing  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  only  way  they  could  tax  me 
without  violating  their  oaths,  as  they  thought,  was  by  denying  that  I  was  a 
minister.  Had  I  paid  the  tax  when  it  was  demanded  I  would  seem  thereby  to 
have  acknowledged  that  I  was  not  a  minister,  and  thus  have  brought  reproach 
upon  my  calling,  my  pe(^le  and  the  cause  of  God.  These  considerations  moved 
me  to  refuse  to  pay  the  tax ;  the  money  was  only  a  trifie,  but  the  honor  of  God 
required  that  I  should  not  wound  His  cause  or  give  occasion  to  the  adversary 
to  rejoice.  I  fully  expected  when  I  refused  payment  that  my  property  would 
be  levied  upon,  and  my  escape  from  loss  or  annoyance  was  due  to  the  judgment 
of  the  court  in  the  case  of  the  other  elder.     It  appeared  to  me  a  providence  of 


345 

Grod  in  my  behalf  that  the  case  was  tried  just  at  this  time,  and  that  the  three 
collectors  should  have  been  present  at  the  trial  and  have  been  convinced  that 
they  had  no  right  to  collect  a  tax  from  me.  Such  things  do  not  come  by 
chance.     To  God  be  the  glory ! 

But  I  turn  to  relate  things  of  a  different  nature:  Though  our  adversaries 
had  lost  the  power  to  oppress  us,  they  yet  manifested  their  spite  by  all  man- 
ner of  reproaches  and  evil-speaking,  and  the  ministers  would  try  to  prejudice 
the  people  against  the  Baptists.  One  instance  I  mention:  A  man  belonging 
to  the  Pedobaptist  Society  desired  me  to  go  and  preach  at  his  house.  I  passed 
the  house  of  the  minister  on  the  way  to  my  appointment,  and  the  minister, 
seeing  me,  set  out  to  follow  me,  keeping  a  distance  behind,  so  as  to  avoid 
speaking  with  me.  He  came  into  the  house  a  little  after  my  arrival  and  began 
to  reprove  the  man  for  inviting  me  to  preach  at  his  house  without  leave  from 
him.  The  minister  displayed  much  heat  of  spirit,  but  I  thought  it  prudent 
not  to  interfere  between  them,  and  sat  silently  by.  When,  however,  the  people 
had  assembled,  I  spoke  to  the  minister  and  told  him  the  time  for  worship  had 
arrived.  He  arose  and  said:  "  If  you  will  go  on,  I  charge  all  my  people  not 
to  stay  to  hear  you, "  and  went  out.  As  he  was  going  these  words  came  tu  my 
mind,  which  I  repeated  so  that  he  might  hear: 

'  Why  should  the  nations  angry  be? 

What  noise  is  this  we  hear? 
The  Gospel  takes  away  their  gods, 

And  that  they  cannot  bear." 

One  man  followed  the  minister;  all  the  rest  remained  throughout  the 
service. 

But  Jesus  is  King  upon  the  holy  hill  of  Zion,  and  notwithstanding  all  the 
rage  of  the  devil  and  antichrist,  He  carried  on  His  own  work  and  the  church 
increased;  another  church  was  formed  in  New  Salem,  and  I  was  sent  for  to 
baptize  a  number  in  Chesterfield — I  suppose  the  first  ever  baptized  in  that 
town — and  soon  there  were  enough  to  form  a  church.  I  was  soon  after  called 
to  baptize  in  Colerain,  and  a  church  was  gathered  there;  another  church 
ormed  in  Montague  ;  another  in  Leyden;  a  second  church  was  formedin  Cole 
rain;  another  rose  up  in  Charlemont,  and  I  had  the  happiness  of  assisting  in 
ordaining  elders  in  five  of  these  churches.  O  what  hath  God  wrought  in  my 
day !    Glory  to  His  holy  name ! 

When  the  Pedobaptists  found  they  could  not  stop  the  work  of  God  by 
oppression  nor  reproaches,  they  turned  to  flattering.  "Come,  let  us  all  be 
one;  we  allow  your  baptism  to  be  good;  we  can  commune  with  you,  why  will 
you  not  commune  with  us?"  And  a  number  of  their  ministers  invited  me  into 
their  pulpits  to  preach  for  them  on  the  Sabbath;  and  it  so  happened  that  I 
went  into  my  own  county  town,  where  I  was  bom  and  brought  up — South 
Hadley — and  their  minister  being  away  they  requested  me  to  preach  for  them. 
That  was  a  good  occasion  for  me  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Christ  to  my  kinsmen 
according  to  the  flesh,  and  to  those  who  had  been  my  neighbors  from  my  in- 
fancy. What  will  be  the  fruit  of  that  day's  labor  I  must  leave  tiU  the  Lord 
brings  it  to  light. 

In  these  times  of  flattery  there  came  three  persons  to  me  from  a  town 
adjoining,  where  they  had  no  minister — men  who  had  been  acquainted  with 
me  a  number  of  years  and  had  often  been  to  my  meetings — to  see  if  I  would 


346 

not  go  and  be  their  town's  miniBter.  They  oflfered  me  a  good  salary  and  con- 
sented to  my  baptizing  in  my  own  way  all  that  so  desired;  but  also  to  sprinkle 
infants  for  them  who  requested  it,  and  so  to  commune  with  them.  I  suppose 
these  men  were  really  honest  in  their  own  minds,  and  thought  that  baptism 
was  such  a  nonessential  thing  that  we  might  compromise.  I  thought  that  if 
they  had  ever  felt  the  power  of  that  word:  "  Let  God  be  true,  and  every  man 
a  liar,"  tbey  would  not  have  made  such  a  proposal  to  me.  I  told  them  I  could 
not  sell  the  truth.  I  pitied  them,  for  they  were  men  for  whom  I  had  a  high 
regard,  and  they  appeared  to  be  really  grieved  that  I  could  not  grant  their 
request. 

This  brings  me  down  to  the  year  1795.  And  now,  to  look  back  and  see 
what  the  Lord  has  done  in  thirty-four  years,  when  we  were  but  nine  in  num- 
ber, surrounded  by  enemies  that  would  gladly  have  rooted  us  out  of  the  world 
if  they  could,  and  the  nearest  of  our  Baptist  brethren  sixty  miles  from  us,  but 
now  with  churches  all  around  us,  but  a  few  miles  away,  and  elders  ordained 
with  whom  I  could  take  sweet  counsel;  verily,  it  is  all  of  the  Lord,  who  hath 
said:  "A  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand  and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation; 
and  the  Lord  will  hasten  it  in  his  time." 

In  this  year  I  was  called  to  part  with  the  dear  companion  of  my  youth, 
who  had  been  a  partner  with  me  in  many  joys  and  sorrows,  through  more  than 
thirty-seven  years;  and  now,  being  left  alone  in  the  world,  I  took  a  journey 
into  the  new  country,  starting  the  first  of  November,  and  being  absent  six 
months,  traveling  and  preaching  in  the  new  settlements  where  there  were  no 
churches  nor  ministers  of  any  order.  From  the  middle  of  December  to  the 
middle  of  March  I  preached  as  many  sermons  as  there  were  days,  and  was  so 
favored,  "through  the  good  hand  of  my  God  upon  me,"  as  never  to  have 
missed  an  appointment  in  all  my  journey,  and  1  trust  "  my  labor  was  not  alto- 
gether in  vain  in  the  Lord. "  I  reached  home  the  last  day  in  April.  After  a 
while,  in  1796,  I  was  married  again,  to  one  who  was  truly  a  helpmeet  to  me, 
with  whom  I  lived  over  twelve  years.  In  the  year  1798,  the  church  having 
another  elder  ordained,  I  requested  a  dismission,  which  the  church  granted  in 
January,  and  thereafter  I  preached  where  Providence  opened  a  door.  There 
was  a  Church  newly  organized  in  a  town  then  called  Partridgefield,  containing 
two  parishes — the  first  is  now  called  Peru,  and  the  second  Hinsdale;  they  will 
be  called  by  these  names  in  what  I  have  further  to  say.  The  Baptists  lived 
in  both  these  towns.  In  June  they  sent  two  brethren  to  request  me  to  come 
and  see  them.  In  response  I  preached  to  them  and  administered  the  Lord's 
supper.  They  were  a  church  of  eighteen  members,  and  desired  me  to  visit 
them  again  with  a  view  of  settling  among  them,  and  in  the  course  of  the  sum- 
mer 1  baptized  a  number  there — one  a  man  about  80  years  old.  Some  of  the 
townpeople  had  said  they  thought  Elder  Smith  would  not  baptize  children^ 
but  I  baptized  one  child,  though  he  was  not  so  young  but  that  while  he  lived 
— which  was  a  number  of  years — he  was  an  honor  to  religion,  and  his  wife  as 
well,  who  had  been  baptized  before.  They  brought  forth  fruit  in  old  age,  to 
show  that  *'  the  Lord  is  upright,  and  there  is  no  unrighteousness  in  Him." 

In  November  I  removed  into  that  town,  joined  the  church  and  became 
their  pastor.  Here  new  trials  awaited  me  that  I  had  not  thought  of.  The 
people  in  Hinsdale  were  building  a  costly  meeting-house,  which  was  about  half 
completed  at  the  time  of  my  settlement.     They  had  sold  the  pews  in  advance, 


347 

and  were  paying  the  costs  of  erection  from  the  proceeds  of  these  sales.  Very 
soon  one  of  the  building  comnaittee  came  to  me  saying  many  who  had  engaged 
pews  had  moved  away  without  paying  therefor  and  the  cost  of  the  building  was 
to  be  met  by  a  tax  upon  the  town,  and  suggested  that  the  Tiaptists  should  thus 
help  to  build  it  and  have  the  use  of  the  house  part  of  the  time.  We  considered" 
the  matter  and  replied  that  such  measures  would  not  accommodate  us  and  we 
declined  to  accede  to  them;  they  might  build  and  enjoy  the  full  fruits  of  their 
work,  which  was  the  same  privilege  that  we  asked  for  ourselves. 

Upon  this  they  voted  to  lay  a  tax  upon  the  town — Baptists  and  all — and 
made  up  the  tax  roll.  To  give  an  idea  of  the  burden  upon  the  Baptists  it  may 
be  mentioned  that  one  poor  man  who  had  no  land,  but  supported  a  large 
family  by  his  daily  labor  and  had  only  one  cow,  was  taxed  ten  dollars  in  one 
tax,  besides  other  small  taxes;  and  others  were  taxed  in  like  proportion  to  their 
means.  When  the  money  was  called  for  the  General  Court  was  sitting  in  Bos- 
ton; it  was  iu  the  month  of  February,  in  the  year  1800.  The  brethren  desired 
me  to  go  down  to  Boston  and  see  if  I  could  get  any  help  for  them .  Setting 
out  on  Thursday  morning,  when  the  weather  was  so  cold  that  some  travelers  I 
met  would  not  encounter  it,  I  made  thirty  miles  that  day.  The  next  day  at 
about  9  o'clock  it  began  to  snow,  and  a  northeast  wind  as  severe  as  any  I  ever 
experienced  blew  directly  in  my  face,  yet  I  pursued  my  way  for  another  thirty 
miles  before  putting  up  for  the  night.  The  third  day  I  made  six  miles  over  an 
unbeaten  track  before  breakfasting.  As  the  people  began  to  break  the  road  I 
went  on  and  passed  out  of  the  town  of  Worcester  as  the  clock  struck  twelve. 
I  rode  until  nine  o'clock.  The  next  morning  I  came  to  a  guide-board,  a  few 
rods  from  where  I  had  tarried  for  the  night,  which  said:  "38  miles  to  Worces- 
ter. "  I  write  this  that  others  may  know  what  I  have  gone  through  to  help 
my  brethren  when  in  distrees.  I  went  into  Boston  on  Monday,  put  in  a  peti- 
tion to  the  Court  setting  forth  our  distress  and  praying  for  help,  and  they  chose 
a  committee  of  both  houses  to  look  into  the  affair.  When  they  came  to  meet 
and  consult  upon  the  matter  they  said  we  were  free  by  the  law  of  the  State, 
and  there  was  no  right  to  tax  us,  though  they  did  not  see  as  that  Court  could 
help  us;  our  remedy  for  such  oppression  should  be  sought  in  the  civil  courts. 

I  became  acquainted  with  a  number  of  dear  friends  in  Boston  from  whom 
I  received  no  little  kindness,  for  which  I  here  record  my  thanks  and  wish  them, 
the   best  of  Heaven's  blessings. 

When  I  came  home  they  began  to  seize  my  brethren's  property  and  sell  it 
at  vendue.  One  man  whom  they  carried  to  jail  desired  me  to  go  with  him, 
and  take  advice  of  a  lawyer,  which  I  did.  The  advice  was  to  pay  the  tax  and 
sue  for  its  recovery,  as  there  would  be  no  advantage  in  remaining  in  jail.  I 
assisted  that  man  in  counting  out  upwards  of  sixty  dollars  for  one  tax,  to  en- 
able him  to  get  out  of  jail.  Then  one  of  the  brethren  sued  the  toAvn  for  his 
money.  I  was  called  upon  to  attend  the  court.  As  an  incident  I  may  relate 
that  the  lawyer  for  the  town,  durinji  his  plea  began  to  disparage  me.  He  had 
spoken  but  a  few  words  in  that  vein  before  he  was  interrupted  by  the  first 
judge  of  the  court,  who  said:  "Gould  (his  name  was  Gould),  you  had  better 
let  Elder  Smith  alone;  he  is  a  man  of  as  good  credit  among  his  own  people  as 
Dr.  Stilman,  of  Boston.  Don't  let  me  hear  you  run  on  against  Elder  Smith 
here."     I  could  not  but  rejoice  at  the  goodness  of  God,  that  He  should  move 


348 

the  heart  of  such  a  man,  at  such  a  time,  to  defend  me  from  reproach,  for  the 
court-house  was  very  full  of  people. 

The  Court  gave  judgment  in  favor  of  the  Baptist,  and  the  town  appealed 
to  the  Superior  Court.  When  it  came  to  trial  at  that  court  the  judges  said  the 
case  had  not  been  brought  in  the  lower  court  according  to  the  forms  of  law, 
which  ruling  turned  the  case  against  the  Baptist  and  involved  him  in  $100 
costs.  This  was  a  distressing  day  for  my  poor  brethren,  left,  as  they  were,  in 
the  hands  of  their  oppressors  by  the  highest  tribunal  of  the  State. 

At  their  desire  I  went  down  to  Boston  again,  to  see  if  I  could  get  any 
information  as  to  how  to  proceed  for  relief.  I  found  that  by  taking  the  matter 
up  in  my  own  name  there  was  a  prospect  of  gaining  the  case.  When  the  town 
learned  that  I  was  going  to  take  it  up  they  offered  to  pay  back  half  the  tax, 
and  the  Baptist  agreed  to  that  and  so  settled  the  matter;  thus  they  got  half 
the  tax  and  $100  court  charges  of  the  Baptist,  as  unjustly  as  if  by  highway 
robbery;  and  this  to  build  a  house  for  the  worship  of  that  God. who  says:  "  I 
hate  robbery  for  burnt  offering;"  aye,  by  those  who  call  themselves  the  church 
of  Him  who  said  to  His  followers:  "  All  things  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men 
should  do  unto  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them,  for  this  is  the  law  and  the  prophets. ' ' 
"Be  astonished,  O  ye  Heavens!  and  amazed,  O  Earth!"  Inasmuch  as  the  town, 
by  paying  back  half  the  tax,  plainly  confessed  that  they  had  been  unjust,  and 
restored  the  half  only  from  fear  that  otherwise  they  might  lose  the  whole. 

But  my  labors  in  defense  of  my  brethren  did  not  end  here;  I  had  still  an- 
other trying  scene  to  go  through.  Part  of  my  brethren  lived  in  Dalton,  where 
s  minister  was  about  to  be  settled.  A  farm  was  bought  for  him  for  $1,300, 
and  for  this  sum  and  the  minister's  salary  the  Baptists  were  sought  to  be  taxed. 
I  went  there  and  requested  that  my  brethren  should  be  let  alone.  "No,"  they 
said;  "if  they  can  escape  by  law  they  may,  otherwise  we  shall  tax  them."  I 
put  a  short  account  of  our  persecutions  in  the  public  print.  A  writer  undertook 
to  answer  it,  and  charged  me  with  falsehood.  By  town  records  attested  by 
the  clerk,  and  writings  received  from  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  the  Pedobap- 
tist,  I  proved  his  article  to  be  a  complete  libel.  I  never  heard  more  of  my 
alleged  falsehood,  ftor  did  the  writer  attempt  to  reply.  Who  he  was  I  never 
knew. 

He  said:  "If  the  Baptists  in  Dalton  think  they  are  exempt  from  paying 
taxes  to  the  minister,  let  them  try  it  in  the  courts;  but  they  dare  not  try  it." 
As  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  had  said  that  the  minister  must  sue  for 
the  money  because  those  who  paid  the  tax  could  not  recover  it,  I  thought  I 
would  venture  to  "try,"  notwithstanding  that  writer  had  said  I  dare  not. 

.  The  town  authorities  said  I  had  better  sue  for  one  man's  tax ;  that  if  I  got 
the  case  for  one  they  would  pay  the  whole,  and  such  a  course  would  diminish 
the  costs.  Accordingly,  I  sued  before  a  single  justice,  who  gave  me  the  case. 
They  then  appealed  to  the  County  Court,  where  I  also  won  the  suit  and  the 
bill  of  costs  against  them,  which  was  $30.  The  town's  agent  advised  me  to 
let  the  costs  lie  over,  for  they  intended  to  carry  the  case  to  the  Supreme  Court, 
and  if  the  decision  went  against  me  I  would  have  to  refund  to  him.  I  replied 
that  I  knew  that  aa  well  as  he,  but  as  the  town  had  had  the  use  of  the  money, 
I  believed  it  right  for  me  to  have  it  now,  and  so  the  bill  must  be  paid. 

They  took  it  to  the  Supreme  Court  by  what  was  called  a  writ  of  error. 
It  came  up  for  trial  on  Tuesday.     The  court  met  in  the  afternoon,  discussed 


349 

the  matter  till  sundown,  when  the  judges  said  they  would  consider  it  until 
morning.  But  what  an  afternoon  it  was  to  me  I  The  court-house  crowded 
with  people,  and  no  faces  known  to  me  except  those  of  the  members  of  the 
court;  and  by  all  that  the  judges  said,  it  looked  as  if  they  intended  to  turn  the 
case  against  me.  I  went  to  my  quarters  ^with  the  sole  consoling  thought  that 
there  was  a  God  in  heaven  that  disposed  of  all  events  on  earth.  But  little 
sleep  visited  me  that  night.  In  the  morning  I  went  to  the  court-house  to  see 
my  attorneys,  one  of  whom  said  it  looked  as  though  the  decision  would  be 
against  me.  The  other  said  he  had  talked  with  the  judges  after  the  court 
broke  up,  and  was  inclined  to  believe  that  I  should  win  the  case.  This  was  all 
my  encouragement  till  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  when  the  Court  gave  their 
judgment — and  gave  it  fnll  in  my  favor,  which  put  a  stop  to  taxing  the  Bap- 
tists in  that  part  of  the  State. 

Af  t«r  I  was  ordained  parties  came  to  me  to  be  married  and  I  married  them, 
whereupon  a  great  outcry  was  raised .  Some  said  they  would  complain  of  me, 
and  there  was  £50  fine.  It  went  on  a  few  years;  I  married  when  applied  to, 
and  the  threatenings  continued.  At  length  I  was  told  that  they  had  carried  a 
complaint  to  the  grand  jury  at  Springfield,  but  could  get  nothing  done. 
During  my  residence  in  Ashfield  nothing  more  was  heard  on  this  subject,  but 
after  my  removal  to  Hinsdale,  going  to  court  one  day  I  met  a  neighbor  who  said 
he  should  enter  a  complaint  against  me  for  marrying  people.  I  replied:  "Very 
well,  you  may  complain  of  me  and  I  shall  continue  to  marry,  and  we  will  see 
who  holds  out  the  longest. "  After  further  conversation,  1  remarked  that  it  was 
my  intention  to  act  up  to  my  profession  before  all  mankind;  it  was  well  known 
that  a  settled  minister  had  a  right  to  marry  and  I  professed  to  be  one;  should 
I  refuse  to  perform  the  ceremony  when  called  on  it  would  be  a  virtual  denial  of 
my  profession;  so  you  may  complain,  and  I  will  marry. 

I  saw  one  of  the  grand  jury  after  they  had  completed  their  business,  who 
^aid  that  the  man  had  entered  his  complaint  to  them,  but  that  they  would  not 
entertain  it.     This  ended  the  whole  matter. 

Let  me  here  remark,  that  I  have  lived  in  the  world  and  dealt  with  my 
fellow-men  almost  seventy  years,  and  never  had  so  much  difficulty  with  any 
man  in  my  own  private  concerns  but  that  it  could  be  settled  quietly  without  a 
mediator.  But,  in  defending  the  liberties  of  the  Baptists  in  the  State  of  Mas- 
sachusetts I  have  had  as  much  law,  and  perhaps  more,  than  any  man  in  my 
day.  It  seemed  to  be  laid  upon  me  in  the  course  of  God's  holy  providence, 
and  through  the  good  hand  of  God  upon  me  I  have  always  obtained  the  right. 
Sometimes  matters  would  look  exceedingly  dark,  yet  it  was  so  overruled  that 
the  enemy  did  not  triumph  over  me.     0  the  marvelous  goodness  of  God! 

And  now,  that  through  the  good  hand  of  God  my  brethren  were  free  from 
oppression,  I  thought  it  best  to  leave  them,  and  they  gave  me  a  dismission  from 
the  pastoral  care  of  the  church  and  a  recommendation,  but  a  request  to  con- 
tinue my  relation  with  them  as  a  member.  In  November,  1807,  I  moved  back 
to  Ashfield,  and  in  the  course  of  the  seven  following  years  met  with  nothing  in 
my  religious  life  uncommon  to  Christians  generally.  I  continued  to  preach 
where  Providence  opened  the  door,  made  one  journey  up  to  the  new  country 
of  eight  weeks'  duration,  buried  my  second  wife,  married  again,  and  buried 
my  third  wife  in  October,  1814.  Being  now  left  alone  in  the  world,  in  1815  I 
et  out  on  a  journey,  spending  sixteen  weeks  in  the  new  settlements  in  New 


35° 

York  State,  traveling  and  preaching.  And  the  land  was  not  a  wilderness,  nor 
a  laud  of  darkness  to  me;  I  enjoyed  much  of  the  Divine  Presence,  and  have 
'  reason  to  think  my  labors  were  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  Though  I  had  not  the 
care  of  any  particular  people,  I  was  called  to  preach  somewhere  the  chief  part 
of  the  time. 

In  1816  my  son  desired  me  to  accompany  him  to  a  permanent  residence 
in  the  new  country.  I  therefore  spent  the  summer  making  farewell  visits  to 
the  churches  and  people  with  which  I  had  formerly  been  associated,  preaching 
and  endeavoring  to  confirm  the  souls  of  the  disciples,  and  exhorting  them  to 
continue  in  the  faith.  The  visiting  finished,  I  set  out  on  my  journey  the  10th 
day  of  September,  having  many  calls  to  preach  during  my  progress,  insomuch 
that  my  destination  was  not  reached  until  May  27th,  when  I  found  I  had 
traveled  1,600  miles,  preached  149  times,  assisted  in  one  ordination,  attended 
one  council  where  a  church  was  under  some  trials,  attended  the  Lord's  supper 
three  times,  and  about  twenty  other  religious  meetings. 

When  arrived  at  my  new  home  I  found  a  small  cJhurch  had  formed  just 
.previous  to  my  arrival,  which  I  joined;  and  there  has  been  a  number  added  to 
it,  and  four  new  churches  raised  up  a  few  miles  distant.     There  is  a  large  field 
for  labor  in  this  wilderness,  and  though  I  am  old  and  feeble,  truth  appears  at 
^  '^  fj;_      precious  as  ever.     There  are  many  errors  and  false  doctrines  in  the  w«rld,  yes 
\  I  am  at  rest,  because  I  believe  truth  will  finally  prevail  over  every  error;  and 

it  is  a  comfort  to  me  that  God  is  raising  up  witnesses  for  the  truth  that  may 
stand  when  I  am  laid  in  the^  grave.  Oh,  in  looking  back  through  the  years 
since  I  was  called  to  be  a  witness  for  the  cause  of  God,  and  against  the  doc- 
trines of  Antichrist  in  the  face  of  a  frowning  world,  I  cannot  but  rejoice  at  the 
overwhelming  goodness  of  God,  who  has  carried  me  through  so  many  trials; 
that  He  should  so  care  for  a  poor  unworthy  worm,  and  suflTer  me  to  live  to  see 
the  churches  of  Christ  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left.  I  exhort  all  to  keep 
on  the  side  of  truth  and  trust  in  God;  we  have  nothing  to  fear;  let  us  bear  a 
'  faithful  testimony  against  the  mother  of  harlots  and  all  her  daughters,  and 
never  cherish  the  thought  of  a  confederacy  with  Popish  errors.  Oh,  that  all 
the  world  would  come  out  of  Babylon,  that  they  be  not  partakers  of  her  sins 
and  receive  not  of  her  plagues.  The  day  will  come  when  every  plant  which 
our  Heavenly  Father  has  not  planted  shall  be  rooted  up.  May  the  Lord  hasten 
<  it  in  its  time. 

Still  has  my  life  new  wonders  seen 

Repeated  every  year ; 
Behold,  my  days  that  yet  remain, 

I  trust  them  to  Thy  care. 
The  land  of  silence  and  of  death 

Attends  my  next  remore ; 
O  may  these  poor  remains  of  breath 
Teach  the  wide  world  Thy  love! 

By  long  experience  have  I  known 

Thy  sovereign  power  to  save ; 
At  Thy  command  I  venture  down 

Securely  to  the  g^ve. 
When  I  lie  buried  deep  in  dust 

My  flesh  shall  be  Thy  ctre — 
These  withered  limbs  with  Thee  I  trust 

To  jraise  them  strong  and  fair. 


351 

When  the  above  was  written  I  thought  of  concluding,  but  on  further  con- 
sideration a  little  more  will  be  added. 

I  never  gave  much  weight  to  dreams,  but  about  the  time  of  beginning  the 
land  suit  with  Dal  ton  I  had  a  dream  that  I  will  venture  to  relate:  It  was  that 
the  Lord  ordered  me  to  lead  the  tribes  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt  to  the  land  of 
Canaan;  I  thought  the  Lord  spoke  to  me  plainly,  as  we  read  he  spoke  to  Moses. 
I  got  the  tribes  together  and  we  set  out  on  our  march,  but  had  not  gone  far 
before  Pharaoh  met  us  witli  a  mighty  army.  The  people  were  in  great  dis- 
tress, but  I  told  them  to  be  quiet,  we  should  be  relieved,  though  I  knew  not 
how;  I  had  a  calm  and  assuring  faith  in  our  deliverance.  The  Lord  spoke  and 
bade  me  go  to  Pharaoh  and  demand  a  free  passage  for  the  chosen  tribes  through 
his  host,  also  saying:  "If  he  does  not  grant  it,  I  will  smite  him  and  all  his 
host. "  I  was  not  bidden  to  make  the  threat,  but  only  to  demand  the  passage. 
Telling  my  people  to  halt,  I  went  up  to  the  army  and  called  for  Pharaoh. 
Some  of  the  leading  men  came  forward  and  inquired  what  was  wanted.  My 
reply  was:  I  must  see  Pharaoh  and  deal  directly  with  him.  At  length  he 
came,  I  demanded  a  quiet  passage  for  the  chosen  tribes  through  his  host — that 
we  must  go  through  unmolested.  The  request  was  granted,  so  that  I  led  the 
tribes  safely  through,  got  them  clear  of  danger — and  awoke,  and  behold  it 
"was  a  dream. 

Having  related  my  dream  I  now  give  a  more  particular  account  of  the  law- 
suit with  Dalton.  There  were  but  few  Baptists  in  that  town,  they  were  not 
very  forehanded,  and  the  town  had  taken  about  forty  dollars  from  them  for 
the  first  tax,  and  the  case  could  not  be  prosecuted  unless  they  could  let  me 
have  what  money  was  needed  for  the  purpose.  They  said  they  did  not  see  as 
they  could  do  it,  so  they  must  submit  to  the  oppression,  for  the  town  said  the 
tax  must  be  paid  unless  they  could  get  clear  by  law.  And  they  sank  down, 
having  no  hope  of  deliverance,  apparently  as  much  distressed  as  the  tribes 
were  in  my  dream.  Then  one  of  my  hearers  who  lived  in  Peru  heard  how  the 
matter  stood,  and  the  Lord  opened  his  heart,  so  that  he  offered  to  assist  me 
with  what  money  I  should  want  to  carry  on  the  suit,  provided  those  who 
paid  the  tax  should  make  a  free  gift  of  it  to  me  in  case  I  recovered  it;  he  said, 
moreover,  that  he  could  spend  $1,.S00  without  breaking  in  upon  his  estate. 
Having  reported  this  oflfer  to  the  brethren  concerned,  I  further  added  tha^  I 
would  prosecute  the  case  without  cost  or  trouble  to  them — would  take  it  all 
on  myself.  In  other  words,  as  in  my  dream,  I  called  to  the  tribes  to  halt 
while  I  went  to  seek  a  way  for  them.  Without  repeating  what  has  before 
been  written,  some  other  circumstances  of  this  trial  may  be  mentioned:  The 
case  was  continued  through  several  terms  of  the  courts  to  await  its  turn,  so 
that  three  years  elapsed  before  a  final  judgment  was  obtained,  which  made 
it  necessary  for  me  to  be  present  at  every  session  of  the  courts  during  this 
time,  because  of  not  knowing  when  the  case  would  be  called.  Twice  had  I  to 
leave  Lenox  on  Saturday  night  after  sundown — and  once  in  January,  when  the 
cold  was  as  severe  as  we  have  in  winter — and  ride  home  20  miles,  and  on  the  next 
morning  go  eight  miles  the  other  way  to  preach.  But  the  Lord  carried  me 
through,  so  that  I  never  disappointed  a  religious  meeting  by  attending  courts. 
After  three  years'  labor  and  toil,  through  "the  good  hand  of  my  God  upon 
me,"  I  brought  the  chosen  tribes  through  the  Egyptian  host  in  safety,  to  where 
they  were  out  of  all  danger. 


352 

And  now,  looking;  back  over  these  times,  it  brings  to  my  mind  what  the 
prophet  Micah  said:  "Remember,  O  my  people,  what  Balak,  King  of  Moab, 
consulted,  and  what  Balaam  the  son  of  Beor  answered,  that  ye  may  know  the 
righteousness  of  the  Lord.  Balak  built  his  altars  three  times  to  have  Israel 
cursed,  and  Balaam  was  no  better  friend  to  Israel  than  Balak,  yet  he  had  to 
bless  Israel  every  time."  So  in  this  case,  Dalton  consulted  to  have  the  Bap- 
tists cursed,  and  built  their  altars  three  times;  and  the  judges,  and  the  attor- 
neys that  had  the  management  of  the  case  against  us,  were  none  of  them 
Baptists,  and  yet  they  blessed  them  altogether.  It  was  not  my  wisdom,  nor 
any  power  of  mine;  no,  it  was  the  Lord  who  did  it,  and  may  all  the  glory  be 
given  to  His  holy  name. 

While  this  case  was  in  the  law  three  years  they  kept  taxing  the  Baptists 
and  getting  their  money,  and  it  took  me  another  year  to  get  those  taxes  back. 
Once  while  the  men  were  talking  to  me  who  were  to  see  that  the  taxes  were 
refunded,  their  minister  came  in  remarked:  "  You  must  wait  for  your  money;  I 
have  to  wait  for  mine;  I  can't  get  it  so  soon  as  I  should."  "There  is  a  great 
diflference,"  I  rejoined,  "between  your  waiting  and  mine;  you  wait  on  your 
own  people;  my  people  have  paid  their  money  and  you  have  had  it,  and  now  tell 
me  I  must  wait;  no,  you  ought  to  pay  me  that  money  note."  Some  things 
were  trying  to  the  old  nature  within  me.  I  found  there  was  much  need  of 
watching  and  praying,  that  I  might  not  say  or  do  anything  that  would  dis- 
honor Gkxi,  or  bring  reproach  on  the  Redeemer's  precious  cause. 

There  was  one  thing  that  I  passed  over  when  writing  about  my  ordina- 
tion and,  on  further  thought,  I  will  give  it  here:  We  appointed  the  ordination 
to  be  on  Thursday,  and  the  elders  we  invited  sent  word  that  I  must  preach  a 
sermon  on  Wednesday  in  the  afternoon,  that  they  might  hear  me  before  my 
ordination.  On  the  week  before  an  inflamed  sore  came  upon  my  foot.  I  made 
out  to  attend  the  Sabbath  meeting  and  preach,  though  in  much  pain.  After 
returning  home  from  meeting  my  foot  grew  more  painful  and  distressed  me 
exceedingly  all  night.  The  cause  of  God  lay  near  my  heart,  and  how  would 
our  enemies  triumph  if  I  were  unable  to  keep  my  appointment.  This  thought 
caused  me  an  anxiety  less  endurable  even  than  mv  physical  pain.  I  tried  to 
carry  the  case  to  God,  and  finally  was  enabled  to  leave  it  with  Him;  then  was 
my  spirit  comforted  by  the  promise  of  the  prophet  to  King  Hezekiah  when  he 
was  sick,  that  the  King  should  "  go  up  to  the  house  of  the  Lord  the  third 
day."  The  passage  was  presented  to  me  with  such  power  and  sweetness  as  to 
bring  entire  relief  to  both  body  and  mind,  and  I  was  enabled  to  rest  under  the 
most  complete  assurance  that  I  should  perform  my  duties  for  the  week,  as  usual. 
This  peace  was  given  to  me  on  Monday  morning,  and  Wednesday  afternoon 
would  be  the  "third  day."  I  said  to  wife  that  however  dlirk  matters  might 
appear  at  the  present,  I  should  certainly  go  to  the  house  of  the  Lord  on  the 
third  day.  The  boil  l)roke  that  day,  the  pain  abated,  and  when  the  third  day 
arrived  I  performed  my  preaching  and  all  my  work  with  coccfort  and  satisfac- 
tion. How  marvelous  hath  been  Thy  goodness,  O  God,  to  such  a  poor, 
unworthy  worm  as  I.  Oh,  that  all  might  trust  in  God,  keep  His  command- 
ments, deny  themselves  and  take  up  the  cross. 

I  have  experienced  many  trials,  also,  among  my  own  brethren,  that  for 
the  honor  of  God  should  not  enter  into  this  narrative.  I  dismiss  them  in 
silence.     Let  them  be  forgotten.    Amen. 

EBENEZER  SMITH. 


353 

THE  ORIGINAL,  FROPKLETORS  OF  ASHFIEU), 

The  proprietors  of  Ashfield,  or  Huntstown  (see  page  277),  lived  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  State.     They  mostly  sold  their  claims  or  "  Rights"  to  others, 
and  but  few  of  them  ever  settled  in  the  town.     The  following  are  the  names  of 
the  original  proprietors  in  1739:  John  Hunt,  Thomas  White,  Nathaniel  Wales, 
Benjamin  Ludden,  Gideon  Turrel,  Richard  Foxon,  William  Crane,  £benezer     ^»- , 
Hunt,    Rev.    Joseph  Belcher,   Jonathan   Webb,    Seth  Chapen,    Capt.    Johny^jZ^C 
^^hjlUgg^    John     Herrick,    Zechariah   Briggs,     Job   Otis,    Jonathan    Dawes,      ^ 
Hebr.    Pratt,     Richard     Davenport,     Ezra     Whitman,     Solomon    Leonard,  jCyi  t    "^ '  * 
James  Meares,  Joseph  Crood,  Thomas  Bolter,  Ephraim  Emerson,   Benjamin 
Beal,   Barnabas  Daily,  John  Miller,  Josiah  Owen,  Samuel  Thayer,  Ephraim  '    r*^ 

Copeland,  James  Hayward,  Samuel  Gay,  Ebenezer  Staples,  Samuel  Staples,  y- 

John  King,  Samuel  Niles,  Jr.,  Joseph  Penniman,  Joshua  Phillips,  William  'v^''^ 

Lintield,    Ebenezer    Owen,    Samuel    Darby,    Jonathan    Webb,    John  Bass, 

Keith,  J.  French,  Amos  Stetson,  Joseph  Drake,  Thomas  Wells,  Samuel 

Ai|drews,    John  White,  Benjamin  Stuart,  Joseph  Veckery,   Joseph  Lobdle, 
Joseph  Melton,  and  John  Bartlet- 


EXTRACTS  FROM  PROPRIETORS'  RECORDS. 

A  few  notes  from  the  "Proprietors'  Records"  will  indicate  the  measures 
taken  by  the  proprietors  to  induce  settlement  and  make  it  permanent.  For 
several  years  their  meetings  were  held  in  the  eastern  towns. 

May  28,  1741. — "  Voted  that  William  Curtis  be  employed  in  mending  The 
Way  to  said  Township,  the  Labour  done  on  said  way  by  him  not  to  Exceed 
ten  pounds." 

By  the  following  votes  it  seems  the  proprietors  had  a  good  deal  of  trouble 
in  getting  a  saw  mill  or  corn  mill  that  was  satisfactory : 

June  28,  1739.  —  "Voted  that  One  Hundred  and  twenty  pounds  be  as- 
sessed on  ye  Proprietors,  as  an  Incouragement  to  him  or  them  yt  shall  build  a 
saw  mill  in  some  convenient  place  &  Convenient  to  ye  Lots  allready  Laid  out; 
Provided,  The  Owner  or  Owners  of  said  mill  saw  for  the  Proprietors  for  the 
first  seven  years  For  twenty  shillings  per  Thousand;  Provided,  also,  that  the 
said  miller  or  milleres,  viz't.  Owner  or  Owners,  do  keep  said  mill  in  order  for 
business  for  seven  years,  and  as  he  or  they  shall  have  water;  and  if  said  Pro- 
prietors do  bring  logs,  that  he  or  they  saw  them  as  aforesaid.  Passed  in  ye 
affirmative. " 

Sept.  16,  1741. — '•  Voted  that  those  who  build  a  saw  mill  do  not  have  lib- 
erty to  draw  the  money  from  the  Treasury." 

Feb.  12,  1942. — "'Voted  to  do  nothing  further  in  the  matter  of  a  saw 
mill." 

Sept.  21,  1742. — "  Voted,  That  a  good  Whip  Saw  be  procured  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  Proprietors,  and  that  Samuel  White  and  Job  Porter  have  said  saw 
delivered  to  them  for  sawing  boards  for  the  Proprietors,  provided  that  they 
saw  sd  boards  for  said  Proprietors  for  £4  Old  Tenor  per  Thousand,  for  the  sd 
Proprietors;  and  Chileab  Smith,  Nathaniel  Kellogg  and  Richard  Ellis  be  a  —t-~ 
committee  to  procure  saw  and  files,  and  take  bond  from  said  White  and  Porter 
in  behalf  of  the  Proprietors;  also  that  18  pence  per  pound  be  paid  Richard  Ellis      ^^ 


i 


354 

for  a  crank  and  gadgeon  for  saw  mill,  to  be  delivered  to  Icbabod  Smitb."  A 
committee  was  appointed  at  tbe  same  meeting  "to  take  Care  tbat  no  Wbite 
pine  timber  be  Cut  and  Convey'd  oat  of  tbe  Town,  and  to  Prosecate  all  such 
offenders. " 

July  1,  1743— (At  Hadley,  the  previous  meetings  being  held  at  Braintree. ) 
"Voted,  That  we  will  proceed  the  present  year  to  build  a  corn  mill  in  said 
Huntstown,  on  the  Pond  Brook,  so  called,  where  a  committee  for  that  purpose 
shall  think  proper.  Voted  that  this  com.  agree  with  some  person  or  persons 
to  build  it;  also  to  lay  out  a  mill  lot;  also,  to  give  opportunity  for  ponding, 
shall  serve  the  people  with  grinding,  as  they  shall  have  occasion,  for  lawful  or 
customary  toll." 

At  Braintree,  Feb.  1,  1744. — "Voted  to  take  the  accounts  of  work  done 
on  the  corn  mill."  And  Apr.  4,  "  Voted  that  Caleb  Phillips  [probably  a  son  of 
Capt.  John  Phillips,  of  Easton]  be  intrusted  the  care  of  the  com  mill  lately 
built  in  Huntstown,  and  be  tender  thereof. " 

Dec,  1751. — "  Voted  to  raise  five  pounds  six  shillings  and  eight  pence  to 
repair  the  corn  mill—  Mr.  Chileab  Smith  and  Mr.  Thomas  Phillips  to  be  paid 
the  money."  And  in  May,  the  next  year,  Chileab  Smith  directed  to  put  the 
gristmill  in  order  at  once,  and  have  charge  of  it  for  one  year.  Committee 
chosen  to  see  if  they  can  find  some  one  to  build  a  saw  mill. 

July  6,  1752 — "  Voted  that  Chileab  Smith,  Samuel  Smith  and  Charles 
Phelps  be  a  committee  to  see  about  a  new  corn  mill;  meanwhile  to  see  if  they 
can't  agree  with  some  person  to  keep  the  present  grist  mill  in  good  repair  and 
run  it." 

Apr.  12,  1/53. — Granted  the  corn  mill  to  John  Blackmer,  also  50  acres  of 
land  on  Mill  Brook  and  50  more  near  it;  Provided  he  will  put  the  mill  in  good 
repair,  live  near  it  and  do  grinding  for  the  inhabitants;  must  bind  himself  and 
heirs  to  do  this;  failing  to  fulfil,  the  property  reverts  back  to  the  proprietors. 
At  the  same  meeting:  "  Voted  to  grant  William  and  Nathaniel  Church  sixteen 

i       acres  of  land  at  the  [north]  end  of  Ki'd  EUlis'  lot,  also  the  right  of  Bear  River, 

if  they  will  set  up  a  saw  mill  within  six  months. 

Voted,  May  29,  1754,  the  mill  and  its  appurtenances,  ^  to  Chileab  Smith, 
\  to  Eliphalet  Cary,  of  Bridgewater,  and  \  to  David  and  Barnabas  Alden,  of 
Stafford. 

May  20,  1761. — Voted  to  leave  it  to  indifferent  men  what  Chileab  Smith 
should  have  for  sawing,  and  accordingly  made  choice  of  Col.  Jotin  Hawks, 
Lieut.  David  Field  and  Mr.  Zadoc  Hawks,  all  of  Deerfield,  to  settle  that  affair. 
And,  Dec.  9,  voted  to  choose  a  committee,  viz:  Ebenezer  Belding,  Samuel 
Belding  and  Reuben  Belding,  to  confer  with  Mr.  Chileab  Smith  as  to  why  he 
does  not  perform,  as  he  is  obliged  to  do,  the  sawing  of  boards  for  the  Pro- 
prietors. 

1763. — Voted,  That  complaint  now  being  bro't  to  this  meeting  that  Mr. 
Chileab  Smith  has  a  corn  mill  at  some  place  which  is  said  to  be  detrimental  to 
the  saw  mill,  and  to  boards  being  sawed  for  the  proprietors,  it  is  therefore 
Voted,  That  said  Chileab  Smith  be  ordered  and  directed  forthwith  to  remove 
his  corn  mill,  which  he  has  erected  at  the  saw  mill  dam,  as  he  would  avoid 
what  may  ensue  upon  his  failure  hereof.  Voted,  That  Ebenezer  Belding, 
Samuel  Belding  and  Philip  Phillips  be  a  committee  to  warn  said  Smith  to 
remove  his  corn  mill  as  aforesaid. 


-f 


"1 


355 

(It  looks  as  if  the  com  mill  on  Pond  Brook  was  not  well  built,  and  failed 
to  give  satisfaction,  therefore  the  corn  mill  on  Bear  River  was  built  [at  6. 
See  Map,  page  328.]  Tradition  says  that  Blackmer  failed  to  repair  the  mill 
in  a  satisfactory  manner,  under  his  lease. — F.  G.  H.) 

August  22,  1777.— "Voted  yt  *  *  *  [nine  tories]  be  committed  to 
close  confinement  in  this  Town." 

"  Voted  that  Capt.  Bartlet's  house  be  the  place  of  their  confinement." 

"Voted  yt  the  Selectmen  make  Provision  for  the  support  of  those  who 
are  put  under  confinement;  as  also  for  the  Guard  which  shall  have  the  care  of 
them,  upon  the  Town's  cost." 

May  24,  1781.—"  Voted  to  allow  Elisha  Bartlet  £7  for  going  to  Surrotoga 
to  Carry  Packs  to  the  Soldiers." 

"Voted  to  allow  £14  as  Rations  for  fourteen  Men  from  Ashfield  to  Tioon- 
deroga,  in  Feb.,  .v.  d.  1776,  &c." 


PARTIAL.  LIST  OF  VOTERS  IN  1798. 

In  the  records  of  Ashfield  for  1798  the  list  of  voters  is  given.  In  this  list 
of  names  are  the  following  (there  being  then  a  property  qualification,  this  list 
does  not  include  the  names  of  all  the  men  of  the  proper  age  for  voting):  David  V' 
y  Ald«n,  David  Alden,  Jr.,  Samuel  Annable,  Samuel  Annable,  Jr.,  Barnabas 
Annable,  Samuel  Belding,  John  Belding,  Ebenezer  Belding,  Daniel  Belding, 
Bezer  Benton,  Dr.  Phineas  Bartlet,  Lieut.  John  Ellis,  Lieut.  David  Ellis,  Capt . 
Lamrock  Flower,  Maj.  William  Flower,  Jonathan  Lyon,  Lieut.  David  Lyon, 
Aaron  Lyon,  Philip  Phillips,  Esq.;  David,  Simeon,  Thomas,  Elijah,  Abner, 
Lemuel,  Philip,  Jr.,  Israel,  Vespasian,  Spencer,  Caleb,  Sylvester,  Daniel  and 
Joshua  Phillips;  George  Ranney,  Thomas  Ranney,  Francis  Ranney;  Chipmaa 
Smith,  David,  Chileab,  Jr.,  Chileab,  3d,  Jeduthan,  Elijah,  Martin,  Abner^ 
Jonathan  and  Ebenezer  Smith,  Jr. ;  Israel  Standish,  Apollos  Williams. 


SELECTMEN  OF  ASHFIELD. 

On  the  list  are  the  following  names: 

1762.  Ebenezer  Belding,  Chileab  Smith,  Thomas  Phillips.       Y. 

1763.  Nathan  Wait,  Reuben  Ellis,  Samuel  Belding. 

1764.  Reuben  Ellis,  Jonathan  Edson,  Nathan  Chapin. 
1768.     Moses  Fuller,  Reuben  Ellis,  Philip  PhiUips. 
1774.     Samuel  Belding,  Reuben  Ellis,  Jonathan  Taylor. 
1784.     Thomas  Stocking.  Chileab  Smith,  Jr.,  John  Ellis. 
1816-19.     Nathaniel  Holmes,  Dimick  Ellis,  Bethuel  Lilly. 
1820.     Bethuel  Lilly,  Roswell  Ranney,  Jonathan  Sears. 
1854.     Aivan  Hall,  Henry  S.  Ranney,  Addison  Graves. 
1865.     Alvan  Hall,  Frederick  G.  Howes,  Josiah  Cross. 


REPRESENTATIVES  IN  THE  LEGISLATURE  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Among  the  Representatives  from  Ashfield  are  the  following:  1775,  Capt, 
Elisha  Cranston;  1787,  Chileab  Smith,  Jr.;  1789,  Capt.  Philip  Phillips;  1809, 
Thomas  White;  1814,  Dr.  Enos  Smith;  1823,  Dimick  Ellis;  1829,  Capt.  Ros- 
well Ranney;  1851  and  1867,  Henry  S.  Banney;  1874,  Frederick  G.  Howes. 


356 

TOWN  CLERKS. 

The  first  Clerk  was  Samuel  Belding,  from  1762  until  the  incorporation  of 
the  town,  in  1765.  Then  foUowed  Benjamin  Phillips,  up  to  1775;  Phineas 
Bartlett,  in  1776;  Dimick  Ellis,  in  1823;  Henry  S.  Ranney,  from  1839  to  1847, 
and  again  from  1873  up  to  the  present  time. 


INDUSTBIAL  PURSUITS  IN  ASHFIELD. 

As  has  already  been  remarked,  the  leading  industrial  interest  of  the  town 
is  that  of  agriculture.  The  want  of  ample  water-power  has  prevented  capital 
of  much  amount  from  being  invested  in  manufacturing  enterprises.  Saw  mills 
are  erected  on  the  streams,  and  considerable  timber  is  sawed  during  the  season 
of  high  water  and  carried  to  other  places  for  sale.  Gristmills  have  also  always 
existed  in  the  town.  The  first  was  built  in  1743,  to  supply  the  first  settlers  in 
the  town  with  meal,  and  stood  about  one  hundred  rods  northeasterly  of  the 
present  Episcopal  Church  (22  on  Map),  and  was  in  use  until  about  the  year 
1831.  In  1753  a  saw  mill  stood  upon  Bear  River,  one-fourth  of  a  mile  east  of 
the  dwelling-house  of  Solomon  H.  Deming.  At  the  present  time  A.  D.  Flower 
has  a  gristmill  at  Ashfield  Plain,  and  Walter  Guilford  another  at  South  Ash- 
field;  L.  &  J.  S.  Gardner  a  saw  mill  at  South  Ashfield;  Nelson  Gardner  a  saw 
mill  at  Spruce  Comer,  and  William  E.  Ford  one  in  the  west  part  of  the  town. 
Besides  these,  diff'erent  varieties  of  wooden- ware  are  manufactured  in  the  town 
by  Nelson  Gardner,  Marcus  T.  Parker,  Walter  Guilford  and  Charles  H.  Day. 

Many  considerable  fortunes  were  made  in  earlier  portions  of  the  present 
century  in  the  traffic  of  various  essences  and  oils.  There  were  several  distil- 
leries where  all  kinds  of  herbs  and  plants  that  could  find  a  market  were  made 
to  contribute  of  their  peculiarities.  Ashfield  essence-peddlers  could  be  found 
all  over  Massachusetts  and  neighboring  States,  and  many  even  sought  the  West 
and  South. 

About  the  year  1814  Samuel  Ranney  introduced  here,  upon  his  farm,  the 
]  culture  and  distillation  of  the  peppermint  herb,  which  was  found  to  be  for 
many  years  quite  a  profitable  pursuit.  For  a  number  of  years  the  price  of  oil  of 
peppermint  was  from  $6  to  $16  per  pound.  Its  production  was  continued  to  a 
considerable  extent  until  about  the  year  1833,  many  acres  being  raised  each 
year.  At  that  time  and  before,  its  cultivation  had  been  commenced  in  Phelps, 
N.  Y.,  where  the  soil  and  the  climate  were  better  suited  to  its  growth,  and 
where  it  was  produced  at  much  less  expense.  Of  late  years  the  crop  is  largely 
raised  in  Wayne  and  St.  Joseph  Counties,  Mich. 


ASHFIELD  FOR  SUMMER  RESIDENCE. 

The  writer  learns,  with  much  satisfaction,  that  quite  recently  there  has 
been  "  a  boom"  in  the  price  of  desirable  sites  for  summer  residences  in  Ashfield, 
The  salubrious  mountain  air  in  the  warm  season,  with  its  inland  quietude, 
-commends  that  town  to  those  who  seek  relief  from  overcrowded  cities  in  hot 
weather.  A  mile  or  so  southwest  from  the  Plain  are  a  number  of  very  ele- 
gant building  sites,  looking  down  a  valley  between  the  mountains,  which  by  a 
little  imagination  some  consider  to  be  the  'Switzerland  of  America," 

The  streams  and  hills  of  Ashfield  also  are  quite  a  resort  for  sportsmen.  It 
is  said  that  there  is  no  game  there,  but  this  makes  all  the  more  "hunting." 
Several  acquaintances  of  the  writer  go  there  periodically  for  this  amusement, 
which  they  find  quite  invigorating. 


358 


1- 


RICHARD  ELLIS 

AUC.   16,    1704-. 
OCT.     7.    1797. 


THE  FIRST   SETTLER 
IN  ASHFIELO  ABOUT  I7<f2. 


IJAME  PHILLIPS 

HIS   WIFE 

JULY    I.   1709. 
1760. 


MONUMENT  TO  RICHARD  ELLIS  AND  WIFE. 

The  above  cut  is  a  fac  simile  of  a  monument  erected  in  1887  to  the 
memory  of  Richard  Ellis,  and  Jane  Phillips  his  wife,  in  the  Ellis  bury- 
ing ground  (marked  7  on  the  map  on  page  328).  The  monument  is  of  highly 
polished  Quincy  granite.  The  upright  part  is  two  feet  square  [and  three  feet 
two  inches  high.  The  base,  also  of  Quincy  granite,  is  two  feet  six  inches 
square  and  twelve  inches  in  hight.  The  sub-base,  of  sandstone,  is  three  feet 
two  inches  square  and  sixteen  inches  high.     Total  hight,  five  feet  six  inches- 


359 

In  May,  1887,  a  party  of  Ellis'  relatives  were  visiting  in  Ashfield,  composed 
of  the  following,  Mr.  Lewis  Ellis  and  wife,  of  Belding,  Mich. ,  and  their  son,  Geo. 
W.  Ellis  and  his  wife,  of  Philadelphia;  Dr.  John  Ellis  and  his  son,  W.  D.  Ellis, 
and  wife,  of  New  York  City,  and  the  writer.  While  the  party  were  looking 
over  the  old  burial  place,  Mr.  George  W.  Ellis  proposed  that  a  monument  be 
erected  to  the  memory  of  their  first  progenitor  in  this  country,  and  offered  to 
contribute  $100,  or  more  if  necessary,  towards  the  same.  Dr.  John  Ellis 
and  W.  D.  Ellis  cheerfully  responded,  and  the  next  day  the  contract  was  made 
with  the  Shelburne  Falls  Marble  Co.  for  the  erection  of  the  monument  for  the 
sum  of  $350. 

It  is  further  proposed  to  have  engraved  on  the  monument,  at  some  con- 
venient time,  the  inscription  that  "  Richard  Ellis'  first  cabin  was  located  about 
ten  rods  south  of  this  spot."  See  page  278. 


The  next  burying  place  in  point  of  age  is  a  mile  and  a  quarter  south  of  the 
first  named.  Richard  Ellis,  the  first  settler  of  the  town,  and  others  of  that 
name  were  interred  there;  also  the  Beldings  and  Ranneys,  and  other  settlers 
of  the  town.  It  was  laid  out  about  the  same  time  as  the  other,  comprises  about 
an  acre  and  is  still  in  use. 

The  burying  ground  near  the  "  Plain  "  was  in  use  as  early  as  1767,  though 
not  formally  devoted  to  public  use  until  1770,  in  accordance  with  the  following 
vote  of  the  town: 

"Dec.  17.  1769. — Voted  to  purchase  a  piece  of  Land  by  the  Meeting- 
House  for  a  Burying- Place;  also,  voted  and  Chose  Mr.  Nathan  Waite  and 
Capt.  Moses  Fuller  and  Timothy  Perkins  a  Conmiittee  to  purchase  and  lay  out 
a  burial  place. 

There  are  other  local  burial  places  at  Spruce  Corner,  Northwest,  South 
Ashfield  and  Brier  Hill. 

Some  of  these  grounds  have  been  sadly  neglected,  but  last  summer  (1887) 
the  "Ashfield  Burial  Ground  Association"  was  formed,  having  for  its  object  the 
improvement  of  these  old  places,  and  the  work  in  some  of  them  has  already 
been  commenced. 


X 


BUBIAIi  PLACES  IN  ASHFIELD. 

The  oldest  burying  ground  is  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town,  and  was 
probably  laid  out  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  that 
locality,  in  1761.  It  comprises  about  half  an  acre  of  land.  Some  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  the  town  are  buried  there.  Three  Chileab  Smiths  are  buried  there, 
but  with  no  inscriptions  on  the  stones  at  the  head  of  the  graves.  The  follow-  f^ 
ing  inscription  to  Mary  Lyon's  father  is  found: 

"Aaron  Lyon,  died  Dec  21, 1802.    Aged  45  years." 

"A  loving  husband,  kind  and  true, 
A  tender  father  was,  also ; 
A  faithful  son,  a  brother  dear, 
A  peaceful  neighbor  was  while  here. 
Though  now  his  body  here  doth  rest, 
We  trust  his  soul's  among  the  blest." 


} 


360 

CENTENNIAIi  CELEBRATION  IN  ASHFIELD. 

June  2l8t,  1865,  just  one  hundred  years  from  the  incorporation  of  the 
town,  a  Centennial  Celebration  was  held  in  Ashfield.  A  large  assembly  gath- 
ered, many  of  which  were  from  abroad  and  had  been  former  residents,  or  were 
descendants  of  those  who  once  lived  in  the  town. 

Rev.  Dr.  William  P.  Paine,  of  Holden,  delivered  the  address. 

Rev.  Charles  S.  Porter  wrote  the  following  poem  for  the  occasion: 

ONE  HUNDRED  YEARS  AGO. 

One  huodred  years  ago 

Tbe  sun  walked  in  the  akj. 
Stars  in  their  far-off  homes 

Blinked  bright  and  silently, 
And  savage  beasts  and  savage  men 
Were  monarcbs  solebf  bill  and  glen. 

The  hardy  pioneer 

Rose  mid  the  sylvan  scene. 
The  woodman's  sturdy  stroke 

Rang  loud  o'er  bill  and  plain  ; 
From  hillside  and  from  mountain  nook 
Curled  slow  to  heaven  the  cabin's  smoke. 

Since  then  tbe  scroll  of  time 

Hath  record  of  vast  change; 
Harvests  have  graced  the  fields, 

Flocks,  herds,  tbe  mountain  range, 
And  human  life  bath  been  ablaze 
With  bridal  and  with  burial  days. 

We  stand  where  others  stood ; 

Where  others  sowed,  we  reap ; 
Transmit  the  garnered  good, 

Then  with  them  fall  asleep. 
God  over  all  does  thus  fulfill 
Fls  purpose  vast,  His  sovereign  will. 

One  hundred  years  to  come. 

Fled  hour  by  hour  away,; 
Who  then  will  here  fiod  home 

And  celebrate  the  day  ? 
That  history  of  joy  or  woe 
Nor  man  nor  angel  can  foreknow. 

God  of  onr  Fathers,  hear;? 

Command  Thy  grace  to  rest 
On  coming  thousands  here. 

All  blessing  and  all  blest. 
A  grand  succession  here  arise. 
Be  called  and  garnered  for  the  skies. 

An  incident  of  the  celebration  was  a  toast  by  Hon.  Henry  L.  Dawes,  U.  S. 
Senator  in  Congress  from  Massachusetts,  who  presided  at  the  table,  and  given 
in  honor  of  Mrs.  Eunice  Forbes,  then  living  at  104  years  of  age,  as  "the  only 
living  bridge  then  spanning  the  century  of  time."  Mrs.  Forbes  was  mother 
of  Daniel  Forbes  and  Bliss  Forbes  (or  Forbush),  who  married  Mabel  Phillips, 
daughter  of  Elijah,  the  eldest  son  of  Philip  Phillips,  Sr.,  Esq. 


36i 

INCIDENTS. 

On  December  10th,  1878,  a  great  freshet  swept  over  the  Green  Mountain! 
region  of  this  State,  caused  by  a  powerful  rain  falling  upon  fifteen  inches  of 
newly-fallen  snow.  As  evening  came  on  the  temperature  rapidly  grew  warm, 
the  thermometer  rose  twenty- five  degress  in  two  hours,  and  the  melting  snow, 
filled  by  the  accumulated  rainfall  of  the  day,  came  down  the  hillsides  in  tor- 
rents. At  9  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  Great  Pond  reservoir  in  this  town,  on 
South  River,  gave  way,  immediately  draining  off  the  75  acres  of  water  that  had 
there  been  held  in  check,  thus  precipitating  a  great  flood  into  the  valley  below. 
The  gristmill  of  A.  D.  Flower  and  the  tannery  of  L.  C.  Sanderson,  at  the  center 
village,  were  destroyed.  At  South  Ashfield,  three  dwelling-houses,  two  bams 
and  a  blacksmith  shop  were  swept  away  on  the  instant  that  the  flood  reached 
them.  In  the  southwest  part  of  the  town  Darius  Williams'  reservoir  broke 
awa}',  carrying  his  large  saw  mill  to  destruction.  The  roads  and  bridges  here 
and  throughout  the  region  were  greatly  damaged.  Through  the  valley,  in  the 
course  of  South  River,  the  fields,  fences  and  bridges  suffered  almost  total  de- 
struction. This  saw  mill  was  originally  built  in  1771,  by  Darius  Williams*^ 
grandfather,  Ephraim  Williams,  Esq.,  who  came  from  Easton  to  Ashfield,  a 
journey  of  120  miles,  on  foot,  with  a  hired  man,  carrying  on  their  backs  what 
tools  would  be  necessary  to  build  a  saw  mill. 

In  June,  1830,  a  full-sized  bear  was  captured  and  killed.  He  was  discov- 
ered when  crossing  the  road  near  the  present  residence  of  L.  W.  Goodwin, 
chaxed  into  a  tree  near  by  where  Stephen  Jackson  lives,  and  soon  made  to 
smell  powder. 

ITEMS  FROM  COLERAIN. 

About  1764  Richard  Ellis  moved  from  Ashfield  to  Colerain,  where  he 
lived  until  about  the  close  of  the  Revolution.  During  the  war  of  1756  the  set- 
tlers in  Colerain  had  a  similar  experience  with  Indian  incursions  as  had  the 
settlers  in  Ashfield.  They  were  driven  to  the  eastern  settlements  for  two  or 
three  years.  After  the  war  they  returned,  and  "by  1767  ninety  farms  were 
occupied  and  nearly  1,000  acres  cleared." 

In  1765  Richard  Ellis,  William  Henry,  John  McCreles  and  Matthew  Bol- 
ton were  selectmen  of  the  town. 

During  the  Revolutionary  war  there  was  great  patriotism  manifested  by^    \/ 
the  people  of  Colerain.     In  1779  the  town  resolved  that: 

"No  person  belonging  to  any  other  town  shall  purchase  cattle  or  any 
other  provisions  in  this  town,  unless  such  person  shall  produce  a  certificate- 
from  the  town  to  which  he  belongs  that  he  is  not  a  monopolizer  or  forestaller, 
and  that  he  is  a  friend  to  the  United  States. " 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  in  1783,  it  was  voted  that  "the  people  called 
refugees  that  have  gone  to  the  British  shall  not  return  to  live  among  us." 

In  1753,  on  April  12th,  the  members  of  the  settlement  observed  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer,  and  a  record  relates  that  Mr.  Abercrombie  and  Mr.  Ashley, 
ministers  of  Deerfield,  were  invited  "to  come  and  keep  the  fast." 

Hugh  Morrison  kept  a  house  of  entertainment  very  soon  after  the  earliest 
settlement,  and  he  presented  a  bill  in  1753  "for  hording  the  ministers  and 
some  likyure  spent  at  the  ordenation. " 


> 


/ 


A  bridge  was  built  over  North  River,  a  stream  in  the  town,  in  1752,  and 
'for  the  "Rhumb,"  furnished  by  him  on  the  occasion  of  the  raising  of  the 
bridge-frame,  Hugh  McLellan  presented  a  bill. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  use  of  liquor  was  universal  in  those 
days.  The  writer's  great-grandfather,  one  of  the  earliest  residents  of  Ash- 
£X  field,  and  a  pious  man,  regarded  it  as  "one  of  the  good  gifts  of  God  to  man, 
\  when  used  with  discretion."  Even  Scriptural  arguments  were  used  then  to 
sustain  this  custom,  as  it  was,  one  hundred  years  later,  to  defend  human 
slavery,  by  its  mistaken  advocates.  But  times  change;  ihe  world  does  move, 
even  if  slowly,  and  the  best-loved  customs  of  one  generation  are  often  over- 
turned by  the  innovations  of  the  next.  Physicians  have  taught,  and  mankind 
have  believed,  for  ages,  that  alcohol  "strengthened"  the  system.  This  is  the 
greatest  falsehood  ever  invented.  Its  first  actiou  is  that  of  an  irritant  or 
excitant,  followed,  if  taken  in  large  doses,  by  congestion  and  partial,  if  not 
complete,  paralysis.  If  used  continually  it  always  disorders  the  system,  cor< 
nipts  the  morals  and  shortens  life.  The  sooner  its  use  as  a  beverage,  or  as  a 
medicine,  is  forever  abolished,  the  better  will  it  be  for  mankind. 


THE  "  TRKMBL£RS  "  OR  SHAKERS,  OF  ASHFJELD. 

The  "Tremblers,"  spoken  of  by  Rev.  Mr.  Shepard  (p.  286),  lived  and  held 
their  meetings  on  the  old  road,  about  eighty  rods  east  of  where  Mrs.  Samuel 
Hale  (near  35)  now  lives,  where  the  old  cellar  is  still  visible.  They  were  pre- 
sided over  by  a  woman  called  the  "  Eleck  Lady,^and  she  had  the  reputation 
of  being  "a  witch."  The  old  people  remember  hearing  them  spoken  of  as 
"  Shakers,"  oftener  than  "  Triemblers."  The  meetings  were  attended  by  people 
•from  other  parts  of  the  town,  and  created  much  excitement.  Many  who  came 
into  their  meetings  out  of  mere  curiosity,  in  a  short  time  "shook"  or  "trem- 
bled "  with  the  rest.  In  the  churches  the  members  were  warned  to  beware  of 
the  "  Tremblers,"  and  finally  the  action  taken  by  the  town  cleared  them  out. 


VALUATIONS  AND  ASSESSMENTS  IN  ASHFIEU)  IN  1706. 

The  assessors  of  taxable  property  in  Ashfield  in  1766  were  Richard  Phil-  — f- 
lips,  Aaron  Lyon  and  Nathan  Chapin.  The  number  of  persons  assessed  was 
71.  The  total  number  of  acres  assessed  was  735;  of  houses,  49;  oxen,  37; 
cows,  86;  horses,  19;  swine,  76;  sheep,  185;  goats,  4;  miUs,  3.  Total  amount 
of  assessment,  .€1,633.  (,  It  does  not  seem  possible  that  this  comprised  all  the 
property  in  the  town;  and  if  not,  the  balance  may  have  been  exempt  from 
taxation. 

Those  who  were  assessed  for  mills  were:  Reuben  EUis,  1;  Thomas  Phil- 
lips, §;  Philip  Phillips,  ^;  Jonathan  Sprague,  1.  In  another  valuation,  in 
1771,  the  following  were  assessed  as  noted:  Benjamin  Phillips,  £65;  David  "S^ 
Alden,  £61;  Aaron  Lyon,  £30;  Ebenezer  Belding,  £37;  Ebenezer  Belding,  Jr., 
£28;  Chileab  Smith,  £25;  Reuben  Ellis,  £63;  John  Ellis,  £57;  Capt.  :Mo8e8 
Fuller,  £74;  Samuel  Belding,  £113;  Isaac  Shepard,  £36;  Joseph  Mitchell,  £97; 
Philip  Phillips,  £90;  Thomas  Phillips,  £54;  Zebulon  Bryant,  £25;  Timothy 
Perkins,  £34;  Samuel  Allen,  £49;  Jonathan  Lilly,  £29. 


X 


363 

FIRST  DIVISION  OF  I.ANDS  IN  ASHFIEXD. 

The  original  survey  comprised  but  one  division;  a  small  portion  of  Hunts- 
town,  or  Ashfield. 

To  carry  out  the  conditions  of  the  grant,  a  meeting  at  Braintree,  March  13, 
1738,  was  held.  The  Proprietors  voted:  "That  the  first  lots  laid  out  in  said 
Township  shall,  at  the  least,  be  Fifty  acres;  and,  on  account  of  badness  of 
land,  the  said  lots  should  extend  to  the  number  of  65  acres,  according  to  the 
•Goodness  or  Meanness  of  the  land  in  the  opinion  of  the  Committee."  These 
lots  were  accordingly  laid  out  in  1738,  lot  Xo.  1  being  described  as  follows: 
' '  The  N .  W.  comer  is  a  stack  and  stones  which  stands  about  23  rods  south  of 
Bear  River,  where  there  is  a  Beaver  Meadow,  so  called,  on  said  River,  from 
which  it  runs  south  20  degrees  west  160  rods,  thence  east,  20  degrees  south, 
50  rods;  thence  north  20  degrees  east,  160  rods,  thence  west  20  degrees  north, 
50  rods,  and  closed  &z  point  of  beginning."     This  includes  just  50  acres. 

This  beaver  meadow  is  now  a  part  of  the  mowing  lot  of  L.  F.  &  W.  H. 
•Gray,  of  the  "Beaver  Meadow  Farm."  The  west  line  of  the  lot  runs  a  few 
rods  east  of  their  buildings,  now  south  about  22  degrees  west,  instead  of  20  de- 
grees, and  the  S.  W.  corner  is  near  the  old  cellar  hole  (28  on  the  map),  at  the 
south  end  of  Solomon  Demming's  pasture,  close  by  the  highway;  then  the  line 
runs  over  the  hill  to  a  point  about  12  rods  north  of  the  green  level  spot  in  Mr. 
Rogers'  pasture  (site  of  Mitchell's  tavern,  17),  thence  north  22  degrees 
east,  through  the  west  part  of  the  locust  grove,  crossing  the  highway  just  west 
of  the  "  Factory  "  bridge,  near  18;  then  continuing  to  the  northeast  comer,  on 
the  line  between  the  Gray  farm  and  land  now  owned  by  George  Church.  Lot 
No.  2  is  directly  west  of  lot  1 ,  and  extends  to  the  comer  where  the  highway 
goes  north  past  the  Gray  Bros.;  Xos.  3,  4  and  5  being  west  of  that.  No.  7 
was  east  of  lot  1,  the  southeast  corner  being  near  the  old  cellar  hole  near  14. 
This  is  the  lot  sold  by  Joseph  Melton  to  Richard  Ellis  (page  303).  Nos.  8  and 
'9  are  east  of  this,  the  east  boundary  of  9  being  a  little  west  of  the  highway 
leading  north  to  Baptist  Corner.  The  first  division  of  lots  extended  north  to 
"  No  Town"  (afterwards  Buckland),  east  to  what  was  supposed  to  be  Deerfield 
line,  south  to  land  now  owned  by  Job  Lilly  and  Hiram  Warren.  Richard  Ellis  ', 
settled  on  lot  No.  49  (I  on  map),  Thomas  Phillips  probably  on  No.  24  or  25 
^at  30  or  32  on  map);  he  also  paid  taxes  on  the  north  end  of  No.  9,  where  the 
Phillips  &  Ellis  Fort  was,  and  might  have  first  located  there  (at  30  on  map). 
In  1739  it  was  voted  "That  the  Twenty-fourth  Lot  be  for  the  Minister,  that 
•the  Fifty-fifth  be  for  the  Ministry,  and  the  Fifty-fourth  Lot  be  for  the 
School. "  The  minister's  lot  was  where  F  D.  Church  and  J.  Yeomans  now 
live,  extending  north  to  the  road  east  past  Houg.ton  Smith's  (35  on  map). 
The  school  lot  included  the  top  of  the  hill  southwest  of  the  village  or  Plain,  a 
large  portion  of  the  Flat  and  old  cemetery,  extending  south  to  Job  Lilly's  and 
H.  Warren's  land.  In  1742  Chileab  Smith,  Richard  Ellis  and  Nathaniel  Kel-  <^ 
logg  were  chosen  a  committee  to  lay  out  more  lots,  but  for  some  reason  they 
were  not  laid  out,  probably  because  the  first  division  was  not  sold  and  settled 
upon  as  soon  as  the  proprietors  anticipated.  In  1754  it  was  again  voted  to  lay 
out  a  second  division  of  lots,  and  additions  were  made  to  this  committee,  but 
the  lots  were  not  laid  out  until  1761.  A  large  portion  of  these  lots  were  laid 
out  in  South  Ashfield,  and  contained  100  acres  each  instead  of  50;  the  rest 
were  scattered. 


3^4 

Between  this  time  and  1800  three  more  divisions  were  laid  oat — the  third 
of  100,  and  fourth  and  fifth  of  50  acres  each.  The  third  division  was  mainly 
in  the  south  and  southwest  part  of  the  town,  the  fourth  mostly  in  the  north- 
west part,  and  the  fifth  over  the  town,  to  till  up  some  vacant  spaces  that  were 
left.  These  irregular  gores,  and  the  four  rod  roads  left  between  the  lots,  have 
made  many  disputes  over  lines  between  landholders,  and  some  serious  neigh- 
borhood quarrels.  1  Most  of  the  large  swamps— some  now  being  valuable 
meadow  land — were  not  laid  out  at  all,  being  called  worthless.  Some  of  these 
old  lots  were  laid  over  into  other  towns;  at  least  Deerfield  claimed  about  two 
tiers  of  the  lots  through  the  whole  length  of  the  east  part  of  the  town,  caiusing 
the  proprietors  and  settlers  much  trouble.  The  dispute  was  finally  settled  by 
a  committee  appointed  by  the  General  Court,  who  reported  June  18,  1765,  giv- 
ing the  disputed  territory  to  Huntstown,  See  Province  Laws,  Vol.  IV.,  p. 
i65.  Differences  also  arose  afterwards  between  the  towns  of  Buckland  and 
Plainfield  in  regard  to  the  lines.  Nathaniel  Kellogg  was  the  surveyor  em- 
ployed in  laying  out  the  early  lot«,  and  Ephraim  Williams,  Esq.,  those  later. 

About  twelve  years  ago  a  map  was  made  of  these  old  lots  from  the  Pro- 
prietor's records,  and  in  1880  all  the  school  lots  in  town  were  surveyed,  located, 
and  a  map  made  of  them  by  a  committee  chosen  for  that  purpose.  These  mapa 
are  deposited  in  the  Clerk's  office. 


EARLT  FAMILIES  OF  ASHFIELD. 


f 


THE  ALDENS. 


-^ 


The  Aldens  (page  90)  were  conspicuous  actors  in  the  early  history  of  the 
town.  Elder  Noah  Alden,  of  Stafford,  Conn. ,  was  the  minister  who  ordained 
Elder  Ebenezer  Smith  over  the  Baptist  Church,  in  1761.  In  1753  Daniel  V 
Alden,  of  Stafford,  deeds  lots  Nos.  22  and  28,  also  100  acres  to  be  laid  out,  to 
his  son  F^rnabas.  In  1 754  Daniel  Alden  is  Moderator  of  a  Proprietors'  meet- 
ing held  in  Huntstown.  In  1761  he  sells  to  Israel  Standish,  of  Stafford,  lots 
35  and  28. 

May  5,  1764,  David  Alden  and  his  wife,  Lucy,  joined  the  Congregational 
Church,  by  recommendation,  from  Stafford.  He  settled  on  the  place  now 
owned  by  T.  &  C.  Kelley  (No.  5  on  map,  page  328).  His  bouse  was  a  few 
rods  to  the  west  of  the  present  building,  a  part  of  which  he  built  in  1791.  He 
yL  had  Isaac,  David,  John,  Enoch  and  Lydia.  In  1766,  on  the  first  town  valua- 
tion, he  is  taxed  for  30  acres  of  improved  land,  showing  that  dilligent  work 
had  been  done  on  the  settlement.  Isaac  (page  90)  was  the  oldest  son  of  David. 
He  was  of  the  sixth  generation  in  descent  from  John  Alden,  who  came  over  in 
the  Mayflower  in  1620.  The  descendants  of  the  Aldens  tell  this  story  in  con- 
nection  with  Isaac's  marriage  to  Irene  Smith,  daughter  of  Elder  Ebenezer  and 
Remember  Ellis  Smith:  David,  whenever  a  question  was  asked  him,  had  an 
inveterate  habit  of  rolling  up  his  eyes  before  answering.  In  those  good  old 
days  of  filial  respect  it  was  the  custom  of  the  son  to  ask  the  father's  consent 
before  marrying.      When  Isaac  asked  the  consent  of  his  father  to  marry  Irene 


S^ 


v 


365 

he  told  him  he  need  not  reply,  but  signify  hia  assent  by  rolling  up  his  eyes;       \J  j  ^ 

which,  it  is  said,  David  did.     Their  children  were  Philander,  .Joshua,  Pliny,         /ijf^i  /'/v. 

Hiram,  Enoch,  Richard,  Philo,  and  Isaac,  Jr.    Philander  was  drowned  in  Lake  | '     v''^^^ 

Erie.     Joshua  went  to  sea  when  a  lad,  was  pressed  into  the  British  service, 

escaped  ofiF  the  coast  of  Spain  near  Cadiz,  went  to  South  America,  came  home, 

married,  and  died  about  1850.     Pliny,  Hiram  and  Enoch  are  dead.     Richard 

settled  in  Warren,  Pa.,  and  Philo  and  Isaac,  Jr.,  settled  in  Louisiana.     Isaac, 

Sr.,  died  in  Pennsylvania,  aged  65  years..     John,  the  second  son   of  David,  JOHW  (i.     I  §1 

remained  on  the  old  farm  in  Ashfield  and  married  Nancy  Gray;  while  her  K  Ji  k/  /<  w     1  o 

brother,  Jonathan  Gray,  married  Lydia  Alden,  John's  sister.  '         ^ 

John  left  a  numerous  posterity  in  the  vicinity,  and  Lydia  was  the  grand- 
mother of  the  Gray  brothers,  now  living  on  the  Beaver  Meadow  farm  (21  on  the 
map).  Rev.  John  Alden,  now  living  in  Providence.  R.  I.,  was  formerly  prin- 
cipal of  the  Shelburne  Falls  Academy,  and  was  the  second  son  of  John;  Betsey 
married  William  Ranney ;  Armilla  married  Aaron  Lyon,  a  brother  of  Mary 
Lyon;  Lucy  married  Dr.  Charles  Puffer,  of  Colerain;  Eunice  married  Luther 
Ranney;  Nancy,  Capt.  William  Bassett,  and  Cyrus,  who  died  about  1842 
His  widow  now  lives  at  Shelburne  Falls.  William  Ranney  and  Aaron  Lyon 
moved  into  the  State  of  New  York.  The  wife  of  John  Alden,  Sr.,  died  !S  /^  N  C  ^-^ 
in  her  42d  year,  and  was  buried  with  her  fifteenth  child  on  her  arm.  He 
afterwards  married  a  Mrs.  Gillett,  who  had  a  son,  Francis,  attending  school  at 
Sanderson  Academy  while  his  mother  was  living  here.  He  was  afterwards 
United  States  Senator  from  Connecticut. 

Barnabas  Alden,  Jr. ,  a  relative  of  David,  came  to  town  later,  and  settled 
near  where  Elisha  Wing  now  lives. 

In  February,  1814,  the  Baptist  Church  voted  to  give  Bro.  John  Alden  a 
"iLetter  of  Recommendation,  as  having  a  Gift  of  Publick  Improvement  by 
way  of  Doctrine." 


THE  ANNABLES, 


The  first  of  the  Annables  who  settled  in  Ashfield  was  Mr.  Samuel  Anna- 
ble,  Jr.  He  came  from  Windham,  Conn.,  where  he  had  resided  but  a  short 
time;  Barnstable  County,  or  "The  Cape,"  as  it  was  more  generally  called  in 
those  days,  being  the  place  of  his  nativity,  as  well  as  that  of  his  wife's  family, 
the  Dimicks.  Freeman's  ' '  History  of  Cape  Cod  "  states  that  Anthony  Annable 
came  over  in  the  ship  Anne,  in  1623,  with  hia  wife  Jane,  and  daughter  Sarah. 
His  wife  died  in  1643  and  he  married  Anne  Clarke  in  1645.  He  was  a  promi- 
nent man,  much  in  public  affairs.  In  September,  1642,  he  formed  a  company, 
of  which  Miles  Standish  was  captain,  to  guard  against  the  Indians,  He  died 
in  1674.  Hia  children  were:  Sarah,  born  in  England,  married  Henry  Ewell 
in  1638;  Hannah,  born  in  Plymouth  in  1625,  married  Thomas  Freeman  in  1645; 
Susanna,  born  1630,  married  William  Hatch,  Jr.,  in  1652;  Deborah,  born  1637; 
Samuel,  born  1646;  Desire,  born  1653,  married  John  Barker  in  1677. 

Samuel  Annable,  born  in  1646,  married  Mehitable  AUyn  in  1667,  and 
died  in  1678.  His  children  were  Samuel,  Jr.,  born  1669;  Hannah,  1672;  John, 
1673,  and  Anne,  1676. 

Samuel  Annable,  Jr.,  born  1669,  married  Patience  Dogget  in  1695.     He 


366 

died  in  1744,  and  his  wife  in  1760,  aged  90  years.  Their  children  were:  De- 
sire, born  1696;  Anne,  1697;  Jane,  1699;  Samuel,  1702;  Patience,  1705,  and. 
Thomas,  1708. 

John  Annable,  bom  1673,  married  Experience  Taylor,  daughter  of  Edward 
Taylor,  in  1692,  and  had  Mehitable,  bom  1694;  Samuel,  1697;  John,  1699, 
Cornelius,  1704,  and  Abigail,  1710. 

Samuel  Annable,  Sr.,  bom  1697,  was  a  farmer  at  Cape  Cod.  He  died  in 
1794,  aged  97  years.  His  son,  Samuel  Annable,  Jr.,  was  bom  in  1717.  He 
married  Desire  Dimmick  and  settled  in  Ashfield  about  1762,  as  above  noted, 
where  he  raised  his  family  of  eight  children.  Mr.  Aunable,  Jr.,  was  a  promi- 
nent man  in  Ashiield  many  years.  He  resided  at  N^o.  15  on  the  map,  a  little 
west  of  the  residence  of  Lieut.  John  Ellis,  whose  wife  was  Mrs.  Annable's  sis- 
ter. About  1802  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Annable  removed  to  Sempronius,  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  some  of  their  children  had  settled  before  them,  and  where  Mr^ 
Annable  died,  in  1806,  aged  89  years.  Mrs.  Annable  lived  with  her  son  Barn- 
abas until  her  death  in  1818. 

Samuel  Aimable,  Jr.'s  children  were  Mehitable,  Thomas,  Edward,  bom 
1753;  Barnabas,  Samuel  3d,  David,  bom  1771;  Mary  or  Polly,  born  1774,  and 
Bethiah. 

Sept.  14,  1768,  Mehitable  Annable  married  Dr.  Phineas  Bartlett,  of  Ash- 
field,  where  they  lived,  and  where  both  died — Mrs.  Bartlett  about  1785  and 
Dr.  Bartlett  in  1800.  Their  children  were  Moses,  Mabel,  Phineas,  Jr.  and 
Hannah.  The  last  named  married  a  Hall.  Moses  Bartlett  married,  had  four 
children,  and  lived  in  Saline,  Michigan. 

Thomas  Annable  never  married.  He  was  a  school  teacher  in  Ashfield, 
where  he  lived  and  died.  He  was  a  peculiar  character,  and  said  to  have  been 
very  odd  in  his  ways,  but  a  man  of  talent  and  worth. 

Lieut.  Edward  Annable,  son  of  Samuel,  Jr.,  was  bom  in  Windham,  Conn., 
Jnne  22,  1753.  He  married  Jemima,  a  daughter  of  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith,  of 
Ashtield,  and  lived  about  50  rods  northeast  of  where  Mr.  Nelson  Drake  now 
lives,  just  north  of  the  present  Ashfield  line,  in  the  town  of  Buckland.  The 
lot  is  called  the  "Annable  Lot;"  the  cellar  hole  is  still  pointed  out,  and  the 
house  he  occupied  was  moved  off  and  is  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Samuel  Hale. 
The  lot  is  about  one-half  mile  from  where  his  wife's  father,  Elder  Ebenezer 
Smith,  lived,  and  the  houses  in  sight  of  each  other. 

About  1802  Lieut.  Annable  and  family  removed  to  Aurelius,  Onondaga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in  1836.  The  youngest  and  last  survivor  of  his  chil- 
dren,'Mr.  Fernando  C.  Annable,  of  Almena,  Mich,  died  in  1886.  For  further 
account  of  Lieut.  Edward  Annable  and  his  descendants,  see  f  age  92. 

Barnabas  Annable,  son  of  Samuel,  Jr. ,  married  Kuth  Moon,  of  Ashfield. 
About  1802  they  moved  to  Sempronius,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Barnabas  An- 
nable was  a  very  worthy  and  extremely  pious  man.  He  was  a  great  Bible 
student  and  religious  enthusiast — and  preacher,  a  portion  of  his  time.  His 
father  and  mother  lived  with  him  in  their  later  years,  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
greatly  devoted  to  them.  After  the  death  of  his  mother,  in  1818,  he  removed, 
the  next  year,  with  his  family,  to  Mt.  Vernon,  Indiana,  in  the  extreme  south- 
western part  of  the  State.  From  Sempronius  they  went  overland  to  Olean, 
Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  the  Alleghany  River,  where  they  went  on  rafts 
and  flatboats  down  that  river  and  the  Ohio,  to  their  new  home  in  Indiana. 


367 

There  they  lived  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Barnabas  Annable  died  in  1835,. 
and  his  wife  Ruth  in  1827.  Their  children  were  Electa,  Nancy,  Samuel, 
Fanny,  Bromley,  Bartlett,  David,  Daniel  and  Enos.  Electa  Annable  married. 
Elisha  Phillips,  a  son  of  Vespasian  Phillips,  of  Ashfield,  and  brother  of  Abilen&. 
Phillips,  the  vrife  of  John  Ellis,  Jr.,  of  Sempronius  (see  page  111).  Elisha 
Phillips  and  wife  settled  in  Farmersville,  Indiana,  in  1818,  where  they  raised, 
their  family.  Two  of  their  sons,  Ransom  and  Moses  Phillips,  yet  live  near 
Farmersville,  Ind.     Each  of  them  has  several  sons. 

Elisha  Phillips  was  born  in  Ashfield.  His  parents  were  Vespasian  Phil- 
lips and  Abilena  Beldiug.  Vespasian  was  a  cousin  of  Joshua  Phillips,  of  Ash- 
field. Elisha  Ellis,  and  Enos  and  Bromley  Annable,  went  with  them  to  Indiana. 
They  all  went  down  the  Alleghany  and  Ohio  rivers  on  boats  and  rafts.  Capt. 
Elisha  Ellis,  then  but  13  years  of  age,  is  yet  living  there  (see  page  156). 

Samuel  Annable,  son  of  Barnabas,  went  to  Mt.  Vernon  soon  after  his^ 
parents  left  Sempronius,  N.  Y.  In  early  life  he  was  a  school  teacher.  He 
was  an  unusually  bright  and  scholarly  man.  He  was  born  in  Ashfield  July  7, 
1794,  married  M.  W.  Davis  September  13,  1832,  and  had  one  child,  David  D. 
Annable,  born  October  12,  1840,  and  now  living  in  Grayville,  III.  Mrs.  Sam- 
uel Annable  died  January  29,  1861,  and  Mr.  Annable  married  Hannah  Kirby 
June  10,  1862.  Mr.  Samuel  Annable  died  April  4,  1870,  in  Grayville,  where 
he  had  lived  many  years. 

Fannie,  fourth  daughter  of  Barnabas  and  Ruth  Annable,  bom  1812,  mar- 
ried in  1836,  in  Mt.  Vernon,  Ind.,  Mr.  J.  C.  Wellborn.  In  1849  they  removed 
to  Lafayette  Co.,  Mo.,  and  in  1854  to  Sherman,  Tex.;  and  to  Pilot  Point, 
Denton  Co.,  Texas,  in  1868,  where  they  now  live.  She  had  two  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Her  eldest  son,  D.  A.  Wellborn,  was  a  strong  Union  man,  and  is- 
now  a  thorough  Republican.  When  the  rebellion  broke  out,  in  1861,  he  came 
north  and  enlisted  as  a  private  soldier.  Before  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  he 
was  a  captain  in  a  regiment  of  which  Gen.  George  Spalding,  of  Monroe, 
Mich,  was  the  colonel.  He  is  a  man  of  unusual  intelligence  and  worth.  Mr. 
Wellborn,  Sr.,  and  the  balance  of  the  family,  were  Democrats.  The  other 
son,  Samuel  X.  Wellborn,  went  into  the  Southern  army.  He  is  now  dead. 
Mrs.  Fanny  Annable  Wellborn  is  in  her  77th  year,  and  in  vigorous  health  for 
that  age.  Pilot  Point,  where  they  live,  is  a  thriving;  place  on  the  Missouri 
Pacific  Railway. 

Bartlett  Annable,  son  of  Barnabas,  went  to  Texas  in  1838.  About  1848- 
he  started  for  the  City  of  Mexico  with  a  drove  of  cattle.  It  is  supposed  that 
he  was  murdered  by  the  Mexicans,  as  he  has  never  been  heard  from  since. 

Bromley  and  Enos  Annable,  sons  of  Barnabas,  went  to  Indiana  in  1818 
with  Elisha  Phillips,  their  brother-in-law.  They  lived  and  died  in  Farmer- 
vOle,  Ind.  Bromley  had  a  daughter  Rhoda,  who  married  a  Mr.  Sessions  and 
moved  to  Texas  in  1858.     She  died  in  1861. 

Daniel,  David  and  Nancy  Annable,  children  of  Barnabas,  removed  to  Far- 
mersville with  their  parents  in  1819,  where  they  all  died,  leaving  no  children. 
Enos  had  no  children. 

Samuel  Annable,  3d,  was  a  son  of  Samuel,  Jr.,  of  Ashfield.  He  married 
Rebecca  Standish,  a  daughter  of  Israel  Standish,  of  Ashfield,  a  lineal  descend- 
ant of  Miles  Standish,  one  of  the  pilgrims  who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower  in. 
1620.     They  were  married  in  Ashfield,  Feb.  4,   1790.     Mrs.  Rebecca  Standish 


368 

Annable  was  a  sister  of  Mr.  Peleg  Standish,  a  prominent  man,  in  his  day,  of 
:Semproniu8,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Annable  and  his  wife  Rebecca  removed  from  Ash- 
field  about  1800  and  settled  in  Sempronius,  where  Mr.  Annable  died,  about 
1810.     He  had  no  children. 

Dr.  David  Annable  was  bom  in  Ashfield,  February  23d,  1771.  He  mar- 
ried Lucy  Whiting,  who  was  bom  in  Groten,  Conn.,  May  25th,  1774.  They 
were  married  in  1800  and  settled  in  Moravia,  near  Sempronius,  N.  Y.  Dr. 
Annable  was  a  physician  and  surgeon,  and  practiced  extensively  in  Scipio, 
Moravia  and  Sempronius.  He  died  November  23d,  1829.  His  wife  died  June 
2d,  1851,  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  Their  children,  all  bom  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y., 
were  Minerva,  Whiting,  Lucretia,  Lucy,  and  Wealthy  Ann.  Minerva,  bom 
Nov.  13th,  1801,  died  May  7th,  1851.  She  married  Dwight  Kellogg,  in  Mora- 
via. Their  children  were  Charles,  Calvin,  Julia,  William  Henry,  Daniel  W. 
and  George  D.  .Julia  Kellogg  married  Richard  Merritt  and  lives  at  Battle 
Creek,  Mich.  Whiting,  born  October  3d,  1802,  died  at  Dubuque,  Iowa.,  Au- 
gust 31st,  1834,  leaving  no  children. 

Lucretia,  born  November  20th,  1803,  died  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  in  1862. 
She  married  Dorr  Kellogg,  and  they  settled  in  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  in  1836. 
He  came  from  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  on  horseback,  in  1825,  and  remained  a 
few  weeks,  buying  some  land.  He  returned  in  1836  and,  in  company  with  his 
brother,  built  a  mill  about  1  ^  miles  up  the  river  from  the  city,  known  as  the 
McMahon  mill,  which  was  burned  a  few  years  ago.  Since  1874  he  had  been 
living  a  retired  life  at  the  University  city.  In  1835  he  went  with  a  brother  to 
Buenos  Ayres,  South  America,  being  on  the  water  47  days,  the  time  being  the 
shortest  that  had  been  made.  He  had  held  many  responsible  offices,  having 
been  Justice  of  the  Peace,  City  Collector  and  City  Treasurer.  He  died  in  Bat- 
tle Creek,  Mich.,  March  15th,  1884.     They  had  no  children. 

Lucy  Annable.  bom  March  25th,  1807,  lives  at  Iowa  City,  Iowa.  She 
married  Oliver  Reynolds,  in  Geneva,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.  Their  children 
were  Julia,  Mary  and  Augusta.  Julia  Reynolds  married  L.  S.  Saunders,  and 
they  live  at  Iowa  City,  Iowa. 

Wealthy  Ann  Annable,  youngest  daughter  of  Dr.  David  Annable,  was 
•born  December  25th,  1808.  She  married  Matthew  N.  Tillotson  October  11th, 
1832.  Mr.  Tillotson  was  born  Febmary  1st,  1800.  They  settled  in  Owosso, 
Mich.,  about  1842,  where  Mr.  Tillotson  died,  March  23d,  1851.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Whiting  A  ,  William  K.,  Seth  H.,  Dorr,  Lucy  A.,  and  Charles  N. 
Tillotson.  Whiting  Annable  Tillotson  was  bom  in  Sodus,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y"., 
September  3d,  1833.  He  lives  in  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  is  in  the  fur  trade. 
William  K.,  bom  November  13th,  1835,  in  Sodus,  N.  Y.,  married  Miss  Beach 
and  lives  in  Owosso,  Mich.  They  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Mr.  T. 
was  a  Union  soldier.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tillotson  are  prominent  and  highly  re- 
spected people  in  Owosso,  where  they  have  lived  many  years. 

Dorr  Tillotson  was  bom  in  Owosso,  where  he  now  lives,  September  20th, 
1844. 

Charles  N.  Tillotson  was  bom  in  Owosso,  September  24th,  1848.  He  is 
married  and  lives  in  New  York  city,  and  is  employed  in  the  office  of  the  >Sct- 
•  entijic  American. 

Seth  H.  and  Lucy  A.  Tillotson  died  in  infancy. 

Mrs.    Wealthy  Ann  Annable  Tillotson  was  a  widow  thirty-four  years. 


369 

She  lived  most  of  the  time  with  her  son,  William  K.,  in  Owosso,  where  she 
died.  The  writer  was  acquainted  with  her  for  nearly  twenty-tive  years,  and 
can  truthfully  say  that  she  was  a  woman  of  uncommon  intelligence  and  worth. 
Of  her  a  friend,  in  the  local  paper  (Owosso  Press),  comments  as  follows: 

"  After  a  protracted  illness,  Mrs.  Wealthy  Ann  Tillotson  died,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  her  son,  Mr.  William  K.  Tillotson,  Saturday,  September  5th,  1885. 
She  was  the  widow  of  Matthew  N.  Tillotson,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Owosso, 
and  one  of  its  first  merchants.  He  maintained  also  for  years  a  promi- 
nent trading  post  for  Indians.  Mrs.  Tillotson  was  a  very  useful,  active 
and  popular  woman  in  society  in  her  vigorous  days — one  of  the  old 
pioneer  stock  that  "pushed  things"  in  the  early  times  of  Owosso,  and  her 
nfluence  and  work  were  felt  in  the  community.  She  was  a  true  Christian 
woman,  an  early  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  this  city,  and  also  a  hearty 
co-operator  with  other  denominations  in  Christian  and  benevolent  work.  The 
esteem  in  which  she  was  held  by  our  older  citizens,  who  knew  her  in  her  days 
of  vigor  and  public  usefulness,  was  manifested  by  the  large  attendance  of 
prominent  citizens  at  the  faneral  services,  which  took  place  at  the  residence 
Monday  afternoon.  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  of  the  Congregational  Church,  of  which 
church,  we  understand,  she  was  of  late  years  a  member,  officiated.  There 
were  beautifal  dowers  and  floral  designs  placed  upon  the  casket — tributes  of 
love  to  this  excellent  woman. 

"  Wealthy  Ann  Annable  began  to  teach  school  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen. 
Later  she  finished  her  education  at  a  young  ladies'  seminary,  after  which  she 
continued  to  teach  until  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Matthew  Norton  Tillotson. 
Mr.  Tillotson  was  a  merchant  at  Sodus,  N.  Y.  In  1836,  with  the  tide  of  emi- 
gration setting  westward,  Mr.  Tillotson  and  his  little  family  came  into  the 
Territory  of  Michigan  and  settled  at  Ann  Arbor.  A  few  years  later  they  came, 
pioneers,  into  Owosso,  then  only  a  trading  post.  Mr.  Tillotson  opened  a  store 
where  Mr.  McBain's  clothing  store  now  stands,  and  became  famous  among  the 
Indians  of  this  region  as  "Bekanoga,"  the  cheap  trader.  Mr.  Tillotson  died 
in  1851.  The  eldest  sons,  William  and  Whiting,  continued  in  business  and 
cared  for  their  mother  and  younger  brothers,  Dorr  and  Charles,  till  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war,  when  William  and  Dorr  enlisted  in  the  army  and  Whiting 
moved  to  Detroit.  This  separation  of  the  family  and  anxiety  for  her  soldier 
boys,  though  she  with  true  Christian  patriotism  bade  them  obey  their  country's 
call,  so  wore  upon  their  mother  that  she  never  again  recovered  her  health  or 
former  exuberance  of  spirits.  Mrs.  Tillotson's  rare  social  qualities,  tempered 
by  a  most  lovely  Christian  character,  endear»^d  her  to  a  large  circle  of  fiiends 
in  the  church  and  community.  She  was  keenly  alive  to  every  plan  for  doing 
good;  in  her  home  she  was  ever  mild,  gentle,  and  loving;  her  presence  has 
been  a  benefaction  upon  the  grandchildren,  and  in  the  years  to  come  how  often 
will  her  sons,  with  their  children,  'rise  up  and  call  her  blessed.'  " 

Polly  Annable  (also  called  Mary  and  Molly)  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  An- 
nable, Jr.,  of  Ashfield.  She  was  born  in  1774  and  married  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis. 
They  lived  at  14  on  the  map,  page  328.  For  further  account  of  her  see 
page  116. 

Bethiah,  youngest  child  of  Samuel  Annable,  Jr.,  was  bom  in  Ashfield 
about  1776.  She  never  married.  She  lived  Math  her  brother  Barnabas,  and 
went  to  Indiana  with  him  and  his  family,  where  she  died. 


37° 

According  to  the  records  of  Aabtield  Anna  Annable  was  married  Decem- 
ber 9th,  1778,  to  Pelatiab  Phillips.  No  other  account  of  her  is  found,  and  it  is 
not  known  whether  she  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Annable,  jr.,  of  Ashtield,  or 
not. 

(In  an  old  letter,  written  in  1804,  by  Mrs.  Desire  Annable,  wife  of  Samuel 
Annable,  Jr.,  then  living  in  Semproaius,  N.  Y.,  and  directed  to  her  daughter 
Polly,  wife  of  Deacon  Dimick  Ellis,  of  Ashfield,  she  meutions  Thomas  Annable 
as  an  uncle  of  Mrs.  £llis.  Hence  it  is  an  error  on  page  366,  where  Thomas  is 
given  as  a  son  of  Samuel  Annable.  Jr.     It  seems  that  he  was  his  brother.) 


THE  BARTLETTS. 


Dr.  Phineas  Bartlett,  a  son  of  Rev.  Moses  Bartlett,  was  bom  in  1745,  at 
Chatham,  now  Portland,  Conn. ,  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  Wm.  H  Bart- 
lett, Esq. 

He  settled  at  Ashfield  in  1766,  and  at  the  age  of  21  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  which  after  a  few  years  became  extensive  and  lucrative;  and 
he  earned  and  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  the  community  which  he  served. 

He  was  quite  active  and  prominent  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  township; 
was  for  many  years  its  clerk  and  treasurer,  and  was  permitted  to  witness  a 
rapid  and  large  increase  in  its  population,  which  increase  was  from  about "300 
at  the  time  of  his  arrival,  to  nearly  1,800  at  the  date  of  his  death,  Oct.  20, 
1799,  at  the  age  of  54  years.  The  manner  of  his  death  was  by  falling  from 
his  horse  in  a  fit,  while  on  a  visit  to  patients  in  a  distant  part  of  the  town, 
after  which  he  lived  but  an  hour.  • 

He  married,  Sept.  14,  1768,  Mehitable,  daughter  of  Samuel  Annable,  Jr. 
She  died  Oct.  31,  1780,  aged  30.  He  married  (second)  March  20,  1781,  Sarah 
Ballard.  She  died  Jan.  9,  1832,  asted  81.  His  children  were  Mehitable,  born 
Nov.  14,  1769;  Moses,  born  May  22,  1772.  He  married,  Feb.  1,  1801,  Persis, 
daughter  of  Thos.  Ranney,  of  Ashfield.  Hannah,  born  Aug.  13,  1778;  Lydia, 
bom  Jan.  17,  1782.  She  died  June  14,  1807.  Phineas,  born  Aug.  8,  1783, 
harness  maker;  settled  at  Conway,  where  he  became  a  leading  and  influ- 
ential citizen;  held  various  offices;  had  a  family  and  died  in  old  age.  Jerusba, 
born  April  31,  1785;  Horatio,  born  Oct.  8,  1786;  remained  in  Ashfield  and 
died  Feb.  23,  1836;  unmarried.  A\'illiam,  born  Jan.  7,  1793;  went  to  central 
New  York,  where  he  became  a  leading  man;  was  member  of  State  Assembly 
and  Senator,  and  one  of  the  Court  Judges. 

About  1770,  and  later,  three  of  Dr.  Bartlett's  brothers  came  to  Ashfield 
to  reside,  one  of  whom,  Capt.  Samuel,  was  a  leading  citizen  here,  and  repre- 
sented the  town  in  the  General  Court  in  Boston. 

It  is  probable  that  Moses,  son  of  Dr.  Phineas  Bartlett,  soon  after  his 
marriage  in  1801,  lived  for  a  time  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  and  afterwards  in 
Saline,  Mich.,  where  he  raised  a  large  family  and  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

The  Bartletts  were  an  influential  people  in  Ashfield,  and  took  an  active 
part  during  the  Revolution  in  aid  of  the  independence  of  the  Colonies. 


371 

TH£  B£LDINGS. 

Two  of  the  early  families  in  Ashfield  were  those  of  Samuel  Belding,  of 
Deerfield,  and  Ebenezer  Belding,  Sr.,  of  Hatfield.  It  is  not  known  whether 
they  were  relatives,  but  probably  they  were  cousins,  or  if  not,  then  more 
remotely  connected. 

1.  William  Belding,  of  Wethersfield,  Oonn.,  in  1646  removed  to  Nor- 
walk;  married  a  Thomasine. 

Children:  Samuel,  July  20,  1647  of  Norwalk,  1734;  Daniel,  Nov.  20,  1648 
(2);  John,  Jan.  9,  1650;  Susanna,  Nov.  5,  1651;  Mary,  Feb.  20,  1653;  Nathan- 
iel, Nov.  14,  1654. 

2.  Daniel  Belding,  son  of  William.  (1)  b.  1648;  of  Hartford,  1671;  of 
Deerfleld,  1686;  lived  on  No.  10.  Sept.  17,  1696,  a  great  part  of  his  family 
was  killed  or  captured  by  Indians.  He  was  a  leading  man  in  town,  and  d. 
Aug.  14,  1731.  M.,  Nov.  10,  1670,  Elizabeth  dan.  of  Nath'l  Foot,  of  Weth.; 
she  was  k.  Sept.  16,  1696;  (2)  Feb.  17,  1699,  Hepzibah  (Buel),  wid.  of  Lieut. 
Thomas  Wells;  she  was  cap.  Feb.  29,  1704,  and  k.  on  the  route  to  Canada, 
aged  54;  (3)  Sarah,  dau,  John  Hawks,  wid.  of  Philip  Mattoon;  she  d,  Sept. 
17,  1751,  a.  94. 

ChUdren:  William,  Dec.  26,  1671,  (3),  Richard,  Mar.  29,  1672;  Elizbeth, 
Oct.  8,  1673;  m.  Ebenezer  Brooks;  Nathaniel,  Jan.  26,  1675;  cap.  Sept.  15, 
1696;  d.  Aug.  21,  1714;  Mary,  Nov.  17,  1677;  m.  1698,  James  Trowbridge; 
Daniel,  Sept.  1,  1680;  k.  Sept.  16,  1696;  Sarah,  Mar.  15,  1682;  m.  Mar.  27, 
1702,  Benj.  Burt;  cap.  1704;  Hester,  Sept.  29.  1683;  cap.  Sept.  16,  1696,  not 
after  heard  from;  Abigail,  Mar.  10,  1686;  d.  June 25,  1696;  Samuel,  Apr.  10, 
1687;  wounded  1696,  (4);  John,  June  24,  1689;  d.  the  next  day;  Abigail, 
Aug.  18,  1690;  wounded  1696;  d.  before  1732;  John,  Feb.  28,  1693;  k.  1696; 
Thankful,  Dec.  31,  1695;  k.  1696. 

3.  William  Belding,  son  of  Daniel.  (2)  b.  1671;  rem.  to  Norwalk,  1725; 
m.  May  2,  1700,  Margaret,  dau.  Wm.  Arms. 

Children:  Margaret,  Feb.  10,  1701;  m.  Dec.  17,  1719,  Nathaniel  StoflFon, 
of  Norwalk;  Daniel,  Sept.  14,  1702,  (5);  Elizabeth,  Nov.  10,  1704;  Thankful, 
Feb.  9,  1707;  d.  Aug.  26,  1717;  Mary,  June  25,  1709;  Abigail,  Jan.  4,  1711; 
Ruth;  Jan.  18,  1713;  Miriam,  Nov.  11,  1714;  Esther,  Oct.  11,  1716;  Thank- 
ful, Oct.  5,  1718;  Sarah,  Aug.  VO,  1721;  Azor,  Dec.  10,  1723. 

4.  Samuel  Belding,  son  of  Daniel,  (2)  b.  1687;  d.  Dec.  14,  1750;  m.  Feb. 
26,  1724,  Anna  Thomas;  she  d.  Dec.  13,  1724;  (2)  Sept.  26,  1726,  Elizabeth, 
dau.  Nathaniel  Ingram,  of  Had.;  alive  in  Hatfield  in  1761. 

Children:  Samuel,  Apr.  1,  1729,  (6);  Elizabeth,  Nov.  1,  1731,  m.  Jan.  24, 
1751,  Seth  Hawks;  John,  Aug.  15,  1734;  Daniel,  June  17,  1737;  d.  Aug.  27, 
1743,  and  Prob.  Lydia,  who  m.  Joseph  Mitchell. 

5.  Daniel  Belding,  son  of  William,  (3)  b.  1702.  In  the  spring  of  1744, 
"his  brethren,  with  six  horses,  came  up  aft«r  him,"  from  Norwalk,  and  that 
is  the  last  heard  of  him  here;  m.  Feb.  22.  1727,  Esther,  dau.  Samuel  Smith, 
of  Hatfield. 

Children:  Esther,  Nov.  1,  1727;  Daniel,  July  10,  1729,  d.  Jan.  1,  1730; 
Daniel,  Dec.  18,  1730;  d.  Jan.  21,  1731;  Sarah,  Jan.  27,  1732;  Eunice,  Dec. 
5,  1734;  Abigail,  Dec.  12,  1736;  Margaret,  Feb.  16,  1739;  William,  Jan.  22, 
1741;  Miriam,  May  14,  1743. 

(The  above  account  of  the  Belding's  is  taken  from  Hon.  Geo.  Sheldon's 
genealogical  reports  in  the  Greenfield  Gazette  and  Courier  for  July,  1887.) 


372 

6.  Samuel  Belding,  son  of  Samuel  (4),  born  1729,  was  a  resident  of  Deer- 
fie^d  previous  to  his  locating  in  Aalifield,  or  Huntstown,  as  it  was  then  called. 
He  was  the  first  town  clerk  in  17<)5,  when  the  town  was  incorporated  as 
Aahfield.  He  settled  at  the  four  corners — marked  1  on  the  map,  page  328 — 
where  Bichard  Ellis  made  the  first  settlement  in  the  town.  It  is  probable 
that  Mr,  Belding  purchased  this  farm  of  Richard  Ellis.  From  records  given 
on  page  316,  it  is  probable  that  Mr.  Belding  was  a  manufacturer  of  ropes  as 
well  as  a  farmer.  He  married,  June  28,  1753,  Mary,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Mitchel,  of  Deerfield,  who  afterwards  kept  tavern  in  Ashfield,  at  17  on  the  map. 

Children  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Belding:  Daniel,  bom  June  17,  1754; 
John,  Dec.  17,  1756;  Mary,  March  3,  1758;  Mercy,  Nov.  29,  1759;  married 
Sept.  6,  1781,  Azariah  Cooley ;  Esther,  April  18,  1761;  Samuel,  Jr.,  Nov.  26, 
1762,  (died  young);  Aseneth,  Feb.  29,  1764;  Louisa,  June  6,  1765;  Samuel, 
Jr.,  Nov.  10,  1767;  Elizabeth,  Jan.  7,  1770,  and  Aaron,  July  21,  1774.  Daniel 
Belding  born  1754  ;  settled  in  Shelbum,  Mass. 

John  Belding,  born  1756,  mwried,  July  15,  1784,  Priscilla  Waite,  and 
lived  on  the  old  farm  of 'his  father's  at  No.  1  on  the  map,  page  328,  where  he 
raised  a  large  family.  He  died  in  1839,  and  his  wife  near  the  same  time,  very 
aged  and  respected  people.  Their  children  were:  Aaron,  Moses,  Reuben, 
Esther,  Submit,  David,  Tiberius  (see  page  169)  and  Hiram. 

Hiram  Belding,  youngest  son  of  John,  married  Mary  Wilson,  step-daugh- 
ter of  Deacon  Dimick  Ellis,  of  Ashfield.  They  remained  on  the  old  place  at 
No«  1,  where  they  raised  their  family  of  six  childron.  About  1855,  Mr. 
Hiram  Belding  removed  to  Otisco,  Mich.,  and  purchased  what  is  now  the  site 
of  Belding  in  that  township.  He  died  there  some  years  later.  Mrs.  Mary 
Belding  is  still  livinp,  at  an  advanced  age,  most  of  the  time  with  her  son 
Hiram  H.,  in  Chicago.  Her  four  sons  (see  page  117)  constitute  the  firm  of 
extensive  manufacturers  of  silk  thread  and  cloths.  One  of  their  large  fac- 
tories is  located  at  Belding,  besides  which  they  have  recently  erected  a  large 
brick  and  stone  hotel  building  and  opera  house.  The  Holding  Bros,  have 
other  large  manufacturing  interests  in  Belding,  as  well  as  an  extensive  farm 
adjoining  the  village.  They  reside  as  follows:  David  Wilson  Belding,  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Milo  M.,  in  New  York  city;  Hiram  H.,  in  Chicago,  HI.,  and 
Alvab  N.,  Rockville,  Conn.  Their  youngest  brother,  Frank,  died  in  New- 
York  city  in  the  fall  of  1887,  and  was  buried  at  Belding,  Mich.  Their 
only  sister,  Jennie,  married  Mr.  Jerome  Vincent,  a  farmer  near  Belding.  She 
died  about  1875,  leaving  two  sons.  The  Messrs.  Belding  often  visit  Ashfield, 
their  native  town,  and  take  much  interest  in  its  prosperity.  Some  of  them, 
with  their  families,  usually  pass  the  hot  season  on  the  Plain. 

Mr.  Hiram  H.  Belding  usually  spends  the  summers  in  Belding  with  his 
/amily,  where  he  has  a  large  farm  and  commodious  buildings.  Of  the  other 
sons  and  daughters  of  Mr.  Samuel  Balding  the  writer  has  no  further 
account. 

Of  Mr.  John  Belding's  children,  David  married  and  lived  on  the  old  farm 
in  a  house  situated  about  20  rods  south  of  No.  1,  where  his  father  lived.  One 
of  his  daughters,  .Jennie,  married  a  Baptist  clergyman,  and  they  now  reside 
at  Shelbume  Falls. 

Submit  Belding,  daughter  of  .John,  married  Elder  John  Liscomb.  In 
tKeir'old  age  they  lived  with  his  son,  Horace  Liscomb,  one  of  the  earliest  set- 


373 

tiers  in  Otisco.  They  died  about  1855.  Mr.  Horace  Liscomb  has  a  farm  two 
miles  west  of  Belding,  where  he  lives  a  hale  and  hearty  old  gentleman  of  80 
years  or  over. 

One  of  Mr.  John  Bel  ding's  daughters  married  a  Mr.  Putney,  of  Ashfleld. 
Of  their  children,  Mr.  Charles  Putney  has  lived  at  Belding,  Mich.,  about  30 
years  past.  He  is  a  prominent  man  there,  aud  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
Christian  church  in  Belding,  of  which  himself  and  wife  are  members. 

Another  son  (brother  of  Charles),  Norman  Putney,  has  lived  in  Ionia, 
Mich.,  for  many  years. 

Deacon  Ebenezer  Belding,  St.,  was  an  early  settler  in  Ashfield.  He 
was  from  HatOeld,  a  town  about  20  miles  southeast  of  Ashfield,  The  writer 
gets  but  little  account  of  him,  except  what  is  given  in  Rev.  Mr.  Shepard's 
sketches,  page  279.  He  lived  at  the  site  marked  11  on  the  map.  In  the 
old  burying  ground  at  7,  there  is  an  ancient  looking  headstone  marked  "  E. 
B.,  ma."     It  is  presumed  that  this  stone  marks  his  grave. 

Ebenezer  Belding,  Jr.,  (son  of  the  above)  married  Jenezer  Ingram.  They 
lived  at  No.  11,  where  they  raised  children  as  follows:  Ebenezer,  born  Aug. 
23,  1769;  Abigail,  Sept.  2,  1771;  Nathaniel,  June  22,  1774,  and  Asher,  bom 
Jan.  20,  1777.  Asher  married  Sylvia  Ellis  (see  page  117).  Of  the  others  no 
further  account  is  found.  In  the  early  settlement  of  Ashfield,  and  up  to 
about  1840,  the  Beldings  were  numerous  there,  but  the  writer  is  informed 
that  none  of  that  name  now  live  in  the  town.  Most  of  them  went  "  west" 
as  they  reached  manhood. 


THE  EUaiCKS  AND  LILLIES. 

Samuel  Elmer,  before  the  Revolution,  settled  where  Geo.  B.  Church  now 
lives.  Most  of  the  Elmers  in  this  vicinity  are  his  descendants.  One  of  his 
daughters,  Keziah,  married  Ebenezer  Smith,  Jr.,  son  of  Elder  Ebenezer.  She 
and  her  husband  settled  at  Stockton,  N.  Y.,  in  1815  (see  page  96). 

Of  the  Lillies,  David,  Silas,  Samuel  and  Jonathan,  all  Stafford  people, 
mentioned  in  the  old  records,  only  Jonathan  left  descendants.  David  and 
Silas  owned  land  on  the  Plain,  and  Jonathan,  in  1764,  bought  of  Jonathan 
Sprague,  of  Huntstown,  for  £100,  lot  No.  61,  with  a  dwelling  house  thereon 
standing;  also  all  rights  belonging  to  No.  32,  of  undivided  land.  Lot  No.  61 
was  west  of  where  Henry  Lilly  now  lives,  and  was  where  Jonathan  settled. 
All  rights  belonging  to  No.  32,  meant  one  sixty-third  part  of  the  then  unsur- 
veyed  part  of  the  township. 

Jonathan  Lillie  served  four  years  in  the  French  war,  and  was  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  He  had  seven  children,  and  left  numerous  descendants 
in  this  vicinity. 

Alonzo  Lilly,  of  Newton,  a  grand-son  of  Jonathan,  has  been  a  liberal 
benefactor  to  the  public  institutions  of  this,  his  native  town. 


THE  FL-OWERS. 


Major  Lamrock  Flower  was  an  early  settler  in  Ashfield.  He  was  bom  in 
Connecticut  in  1720.  His  wife  was  a  Goodwin,  of  West  Hartford,  sister  of 
Uriah  Goodwin,  of  Ashfield.     The  first  of  the  Flower  family  in  New  England 


374 

waa  Lamrock  Flower,  bom  in  England  about  1660.  The  "American  College 
of  Genealogical  Registry  "  states  that  he  was  probabJy  a  son  of  Capt.  Wil- 
liam Flower  and  grandson  of  Sir  William  Flower,  of  Whit  well,  England. 

Lamrock  Flower,  born  1660,  emigrated  to  America,  and  was  in  Hartford, 
Conu.,  where  he  married  in  1686.  He  had  eight  children,  four  sons:  Lam- 
rock, born  1689;  John,  1695;  Francis,  1700,  and  Joseph,  1706.  Lamrock, 
bom  1689,  had  two  children:  Elijah,  bom  1717,  and  Dinah,  bom  1714.  John 
Flower,  bom  1695,  was  probably  the  father  of  Major  Lamrock  Flower,  of 
Ashfield.  Major  Flower  lived  across  the  road  from  Deacon  Dimick  Ellis,  at 
No.  13  on  the  map,  in  the  gambrel- roofed  house  where  Mr.  Joshua  Hall  now 
lives.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  Ashfield,  and  raised  several  children.  He 
died  Jan  8,  1815,  aged  95  years.  His  children  were  Hannah,  Bildad,  Lam- 
rock, Jr. ,  and  others. 

Haimah  Flower  married,  it  was  said.  Major  William  Flower,  of  Ashfield, 
and  their  son  Phineas  resided  there  until  about  1840,  when  he  removed  to 
Phelps,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  many  years  ago.  "L^ncle  Phin's"  sons,  James 
B.  and  Chester,  now  live  in  Greeley,  Colorado.  Mr.  Chester  Flower,  bom  in 
Ashfield  about  1812,  always  lived  there  until  in  the  autumn  of  1887,  when  he 
went  to  Colorado.     Calvin  was  also  a  son  of  Phineas. 

Bildad  Flower,  son  of  Major  Lamrock,  was  born  about  1750.  He  married 
and  had  two  daughters,  Ruth,  who  married  Jesse  Ranney,  of  Ashfield,  and 
Amanda  (see  page  111),  who  married  Edward  Ellis,  and  second.  Rev.  Lyman 
Forbush,  of  Sempronius,  N.  Y. 

Capt.  Lamrock  Flower,  son  of  Major  Lamrock,  was  born  in  Ashfield, 
where  he  raised  a  family  of  several  children:  Rhoda,  Rumina  (see  pages  152 
and  154),  Horace  and  others.  Mr.  Horace  or  Horatio  Flower  removed  to 
Otiaco,  Mich.,  about  1850,  and  later  to  Muir,  where  he  died.  One  of  his  sons 
now  lives  at  Muir,  in  the  jewelry  trade.  Louisa,  a  daughter  of  Horace,  mar- 
ried Mr.  Volney  Belding  (see  page  186). 

The  Flowers,  of  Connecticut,  and  their  posterity  were  numerous. 

Kon.  Roswell  P.  Flower,  of  New  York  city,  a  Democratic  politician  of 
note  and  prospective  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  is  a  descendant  of  the  Con- 
necticut branch.  He  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  most  charitable  of  New  York 
millionaires.  He  was  born  in  Theresa,  N.  Y,  in  1835.  His  father  was  Nathan 
Munroe  Flower,  of  Oak  Hill,  N.  Y,,  born  in  1796,  a  son  of  Elijah  Flower,  of 
New  Hartford,  Conn.,  born  1750,  who  was  a  son  of  Elijah  Flower,  born  in 
Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1717,  a  son  of  Lamrock  Flower,  of  Hartford,  born  1689, 
who  was  a  son  of  Lamrock  Flower,  of  Whitwell,  England,  born  about  IGGO, 
and  who  settled  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  previous  to  1686,  as  above. 


THE  CHAPINS. 

Nathan  Cbapin  was  a  descendant  of  Samuel,  who  settled  in  Springfield 
in  1642,  and  whose  statue  has  recently  been  erected  on  one  of  the  parks  of 
that  city. 

There  is  a  legend  current  among  Nathan's  posterity  here  that  he  was  one 
of  the  guanrd  sent  to  Huntstown,  and  that  while  here  he  fell  in  love  with 
Chileab  Smith's  oldest  daughter,  Mary,  and  married  her  in  1757.  After  liv- 
ing here  a  number  of  years  he  moved  back  to  Springfield,  where  several  of  his 


375 

children  were  born.     Afterwards  he  retarned  to  lAshtield,  where  he   spent 
the  rest  of  his  life.     He  lived  at  one  time  at  or  near  32  [see  niap,  page  328], 
owning  quite  a  tract  of  land  to  the  northeast  of  this,  on  which  he  probably 
lived  for  many  years.     He  wm  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  and  was  taken  pris- 
oner at  the  battle  of  Ticonderoga,  but  escaped  in  a  short  time  with  nine  others. 
He  was  one  of  the  selectmen  as  early  as  1764  and  *68.     One  of  his  daughters 
married  Samuel  Klmer,  2d,  father  of  Erastus  Elmer,  now  living  in  this  town 
at  the  age  of  90  years.     Nathan's  son,  Japhet,  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for 
many  years,  and  in  the  southeast  part  of  Buckland.     He  was  the  father  of 
Lather,  now  living  in  this  town,  who  has  in  his  possession  a  diary  kept  by 
his  father,  from  which  this  extract  it  made  from  the  year  1831: 
"  May  4. — EUised  the  Baptist  meeting-house  in  Buckland. 
Mayo. — Raised  the  Baptist  meeting-house  in  Ashtield,  moved  down 
from  the  hill."     Moved  from  34  to  35,  see  page  333. 


THE  DIMICKS. 


Lieut.  John  Ellis  and  Samuel  Annable,  Jr.,  residents  of  Ashtield,  married 
sisters — Mary  (or  Molly)  and  Desire  Dimick  (see  pages  78  and  366).  They 
were  from  "the  Cape,"  or  Barnstable  Co.,  Mass.,  where  the  Dimicks  were 
numerous. 

The  first  of  this  family  in  New  England  was  Elder  Thomas  Dymock,  as 
the  name  was  then  spelled.  He  died  in  1658,  leaving  a  wife,  Annie,  and  sev- 
eral children;  Eliza,  .lohn,  Mehitable  and  Shubsiel.  The  latter,  Shubael.  born 
1644,  married  Joanna  Bursley  in  KWS,  and  had  Thomas,  John,  Timothy,  Shu- 
bael, .roseph,  Mehitable,  Benjamin,  Joanna  and  Thankful.  Shubael,  born 
1673.  married  Tabitha  Lothrop,  and  had  five  children:  David,  Samuel,  Shu- 
bael, Joanna  and  Mehitable. 

Joseph  Dimick,  born  1675,  married  Lydia  Puller  in  169^,  and  had  Thomas, 
Bsthiah,  Mehitable,  Ensign,  Ichabod,  Abigail,  Pharaoh  and  David. 

General  .Joseph  Dimick,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Elder  Thomas  Dimick.  was 
born  in  1734,  and  died  in  1822.  At  the  opening  of  the  Revolution  he  took  a 
decided  stand  on  the  side  of  liberty.  He  was  early  a  professor  of  religion, 
and  ever  maintaine  1  a  consistent  Christian  life.  He  married  Mary  Meiggs  in 
1759.  Their  children  were  Braddook,  Prince,  Martha,  Temperance,  Mary, 
Joseph,  Anselin,  William  and  Tabitha.  Hon.  Braddock  Dimi^;k,  born  176l> 
was  many  years  a  member  of  the  .State  L3gisiature,  anl  a  de?con  in  the  Con- 
gregational Church  for  3.5  years.  He  dfed  in  1845.  His  son,  William  F..  now 
lives  in  Falmouth,  Mass. 

Lieut.  Lot  Dimick,  brother  of  Uen.  Joseph  Dimick,  was  a  most  daring 
soldier  during  the  Revolution.  He  was  of  a  party  who  captured  a  British 
brig,  a  valuable  prize,  in  Nantucket  harbor.  It  is  said  that  "  he  handled  his 
gun  so  as  to  make  sure  to  get  two  Britishers  in  range."  On  his  tombstone  is 
written:  "  He  merited  the  noblest  of  mottoes — An  Honest  Man.'  He  died  in 
1816,  aged  80  years. 

Charles,  Edward  and  Constant  Dimick,  of  Barnstable,  were  probably 
brothers  of  Desire  and  Molly,  of  Ashfield. 


376 

THK  LYONS. 

Aaron  Lyon,  Sr.,  and  Mary,  his  wife,  probably  came  to  town  in  1764. 
They  settled  on  Lot  44,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  he  built  the  house  where 
Arnold  Smith  now  lives,  46.  They  joined  the  Congregational  church  by  let- 
ters from  SturbriHge,  Nov.  17,  1764,  but  in  1767  joined  the  Baptist  church 
under  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith.  They  had  five  sons  and  five  daughters.  Of 
these,  Nathan  settled  in  Baptist  (.Corner,  Aaron  2d,  located  just  over  the  line 
in  Buckland,  and  David  continued  on  the  home  farm  until  his  death  by  drown- 
ing (page  295).  In  1784,  Aaron,  Jr,,  married  Jemima  Shepard,  daughter  of 
Deacon  Isaac  Shepard,  who  lived  at  58,  just  over  the  hill  from  where  Aaron, 
Jr.,  lived.     Her  mother  was  Jemima  Smith,  daughter  of  Chileab,  Sr. 

The  young  couple  moved  into  their  little  house  about  half  a  mile  north 
of  Ashfield  line  into  Buckland.  Here  several  children  were  born  previous  to 
1797  when  Mary  Lyon  was  born.  Aaron,  Jr.,  died  in  1802,  when  Mary  was 
five  years  old.  Mary  attended  the  district  schools  in  Buckland  and  Ashfield, 
and  the  Sanderson  Academy  on  the  Plain.  The  stojy  of  the  life  of  this  won- 
derful woman  has  been  told  by  several  authors,*  and  is  familiar  to  most 
people.  The  little  house  where  she  was  born  has  gone  to  decay;  the  cellar 
and  chimney  foundation,  partially  grassed  over,  remain.  There  is  a  very 
large  boulder  Just  west  of  the  old  cellar,  and  into  the  side  of  this  rock  is 
cemented  a  bronze  tablet,  bearing  this  inscription : 

MARY  LYON, 

the  foundkk  of  the 

mount  holyoke  seminary, 

was  bokn  here, 

Feb.  28,  1797. 

Hundreds  of  people  every  year  visit  this  secluded  spot,  and  at  the  road 
comers,  within  several  miles,  are  placed  guide  boards,  giving  the  direction  and 
distance  to  the  "Birthplace  of  Mary  Lyon."— [See  page  238.] 

Her  brother,  Aaron  Lyon,  3d,  moved  to  Stockton,  N.  Y.  Two  of  her 
sisters  married  Elisha  Wing,  of  Ashfield;  Lavina  married  Daniel  Putnam,  of 
Buckland.  EJlecta,  who  is  rememl^ered  by  some  of  our  oldest  people  as  an 
excellent  schoolteacher,  went  to  Stockton.  None  of  the  L5'on  posterity  bear- 
ing that  name  are  now  in  town,  but  are  found  in  the  Wing  and  Elmer  .families. 
Mary's  mother,  for  her  second  husband,  married  Deacon  Jonathan  Taylor,  of 
Ashfield. 

Deacon  David  Lyon,  who  was  drowned  in  1827,  had  seven  children. 
One  of  his  sons,  Marshall  Lyon,  married  a  Sherman  and  removed  to  Girard, 
Erie  Co.,  Penn.,  about  1834,  where  they  raised  a  family.  Eunice,  one  of  their 
daughters,  married  Dr.  George  Ellis,  of  North  Springfield,  Pa.  (see  page  238). 
Other  children  of  Marshall  Lyon  were  Elvira,  married  Marshall  Pengra,  and 
lived  at  Juda,  Wis.  Washburn  lives  at  Union  City,  Erie  Co.,  Pa.;  David  at 
Platea,  Erie  Co.,  Pa. ;  Sophia,  Betsey,  Josiah  and  Minerva,  who  married  Henry 
Howard,  of  Irving,  Barry  Co.,  Mich.  Marshall  Lyon  died  in  Girard  in  Jan. 
1880,  and  his  wife  Aug.  15,  1876.     Children  of  David  and  Betsey  (Washburn) 

*8oe  "  Life  of  Mary  Lyon,"  by  Dr.  Edward  Hitchcock :  "  Recollections  of  Mary 
Lyon,"  by  Miss  Fiske,  also  "  Life  of  Mary  Lyon,"  published  by  American  Tract  Society. 


377 

Lyon:  Betsey,  Achsah,  David,  Marshall,  Sally,  Hepzibeth  and  Aaron. 
Betsey  married  Eli  Gray;  Achsah  m.  Aruna  Hall;  Sally  m.  Constant  Dimick; 
Marshall  m.  Chloe  Sherman,  daughter  of  Caleb  and  Eunice  (Bacon)  Sherman, 
of  Conway,  Mass.  Their  children  were:  Joseph,  John,  William,  Caleb,  Orra, 
Chloe,  Lydia  and  Eunice  Sherman.  Marshall  Lyon  and  Chloe  Sherman  were 
married  in  Conway,  Apr.  20,  1818.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children, 
five  of  whom  are  now  living. 


TflE  PHIL,LIP8£S. 


^ 


Of  all  the  families  of  Ashfield,  whether  in  early  or  later  times,  the  Phil- 
lipses  were  the  most  numerous. 

In  the  settlement  of  the  town  in  1745,  Thomas  Phillips,  son  of  Captain 
John  Phillips,  of  Easton,  Mass.,  was  the  second  settler,  his  brother-in-law, 
Richard  Ellis,  being  the  first.  Thomas  married  in  or  near  Easton.  He  and  V^ 
his  wife,  Katharine,  lived  at  Deerrield  a  time  previous  to  settling  in  Ashfield. 
He  was  born  in  Easton,  Jan.  25,  1712.  He  located  in  Ashfield  at  No.  32  on  the 
map  (page  328),  or  possibly  his  first  cabin,  as  many  of  the  dwellings  were 
then  called,  was  about  80  rods  further  south,  and  at  or  near  the  Eilis  and 
Phillips  fort.  No.  30. 

Capt.  John  Phillips,  of  Easton,  father  of  Thomas,  was  a  soldier  in  1690  \^ 
in  an  expedition  undertaken  by  the  Colonies  for  the  reduction  of  Quebec, 
Canada.  For  this  service  he  became  entitled,  about  40  years  afterwards,  to 
"Rights"  of  land  in  what  is  now  Ashfield.  Undoubtedly  this  fact  is  what 
led  Thomas  Phillips  and  Richard  Ellis,  a  son-in-law  of  Capt.  John  Phillips,  to 
seek  homes  in  this  then  wilderness  region. 

Of  Capt.  John  Phillips,  of  P]aston,  it  is  said  that  he  was  a  man  of  unusual 
ability  and  integrity  of  character.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in 
Easton  in  1694.  He  removed  from  Weymouth,  Mass.,  to  Easton,  with  his 
■wife,  Elizabeth  Drake,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  sister  of  Benjamin  Drake, 
residents  of  Weymouth,  who  settled  in  Easton  about  1700.  Capt.  Phillips 
was  a  prominent  man  in  the  early  town  history,  and  was  the  first  town  clerk, 
serving  for  twelve  years.  In  his  bold  handwriting  is  found  on  the  records  of 
Easton  the  marriage  of  his  daughter,  Jean,  to  Richard  Ellis  in  1728,  and  the 
names  and  date  of  birth  of  seven  of  their  children.  The  writer  is  greatly 
indebted  to  Rev.  Wm.  L.  Chafiin,  of  Easton,  for  these  reports,  without  which 
he  could  have  made  little  or  no  progress  in  tracing  the  descendants  of  Richard 
Ellis.  (Mr.  Chaffin  has  searched  the  records  of  Easton  thoroughly,  and  has 
lately  published  a  volume  of  over  800  pages  of  the  history  of  that  town). 

Capt.  John  Phillips  is  noted  as  the  first  per.son  in  Easton  who  held  a  com- 
mission as  captain.  He  was  a  son  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Packer)  Phillips, 
and  grandson  of  Nicholas  Phillips. 

Capt.  John  Phillips'  children  were  John,  Jr.,  William,  Experience,  Sam- 
uel, Joshua,  Caleb,  Jean  (or  Jane),  Thomas  and  Richard  (see  page  16). 

John,  Jr.,  was  born  at  Weymouth  in  1692.  He  died  in  Easton  in  1758. 
His  son.  Deacon  Ebenezer  Phillips,  lived  there  after  him.  Samuel,  son  of 
Capt.  John,  was  born  1702.  He  married  Damaris  Smith,  of  Taunton.  He 
lived  and  died  in  Easton,  and  his  son,  Samuel,  also. 


i^ 


-f 


378 

William  Phillips,  son  of  Capt.  John,  was  born  about  1695.  He  was  a 
carpenter,  and  built  and  owned  a  saw  mill  in  Easton. 

A  few  years  after  the  settlement  of  Ashfield  there  were  Joshua,  Caleb 
and  Richard  Phillips's  names  on  the  town  records.  It  is  not  now  certain  whether 
these  were  all  sons  of  Capt.  John,  of  Easton,  or  not.  However,  such  is  prob- 
ably the  fact,  as  Thomas  and  Jane  (Richard  Ellis's  wife),  children  of  Capt. 
John,  had  become  permanent  residents  there,  which  would  naturally  lead 
others  of  their  kin  to  the  same  locality.  Jean  or  Jane,  daughter  of  Capt. 
John  Phillips,  of  Easton,  married  Richard  Ellis,  the  first  settler  in  Ashtield 
(see  page  16). 

Thomas  Phillips,  Sr.,  son  of  Capt.  John,  was  bom  in  E^ton,  Jan.  25, 
1712.  He  lived  in  Deerfield  for  a  time,  and  then  followed  Mr.  Ellis  to  Ash- 
field about  1745,  where  he  remained  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  children  were: 
Philip,  born  Feb.  3,  1739  (one  account  gives  the  year  as  1738);  Simeon,  April 
15,  1742;  Charity,  Oct.  10,  1744;  Thomas,  Jr.,  June  7,  1747;  Elizabeth,  Oct. 
31,  1749;  Sarah,  1752,  and  Caleb? 

Of  Thomas  PhiUips,  Sr's,  children,  Capt.  Philip  Phillips  was  the  eldest, 
and  in  his  time  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Ashfield.  It  is  said  that 
his  mother  died  when  he  was  a  babe,  but  it  seems  that  his  father  married 
again,  for  the  Congregational  Church  records  say  that  Thomas  Phillips  and  his 
wife,  Catharine,  were  among  the  fifteen  members  that  first  formed  that  church 
in  1763,  and  that  she  dietl  in  1775.  When  Thomas,  Sr.,  settled  in  Ashfield, 
there  came  with  him  a  colored  man,  Heber  (Honestman),  by  name,  and  his 
wife.  It  is  said  that  this  colored  woman  was  a  nurse  for  the  children,  and  in 
return  for  her  and  her  husband's  kindness,  they  were  taken  care  of  by  Capt. 
Philip  Phillips  in  their  old  age.  Heber  occupied  a  cabin  at  29,  just  north  of 
Capt.  Phillips,  a  short  distance  above  the  spring.  According  to  the  old  Con- 
gregational records,  Heber  joined  that  body  at  its  formation  in  1763,  and  died 
in  1768,  aged  67  years. 

Capt.  Philip  Phillips  lived  at  28  on  the  map,  on  the  southwest  comer  of 
lot  No.  1.  He  afterwards  moved  100  rods  north  and  located  on  the  corner  at 
26,  where  he  built  a  large  frame  house.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Selectman,  and  represented  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  married 
Mercy,  daughter  of  Joshua  Phillips,  of  Dighton,  Mass.,  a  town  about  15  miles 
south  of  Easton.  She  was  born  in  1737,  and  died  Oct.  15,  1815.  She  was  a 
sister  of  Richard  Phillips,  a  resident  of  Ashfield,  and  of  Abiather,  Samuel 
and  Joshua  Phillips,  of  Dighton.  One  of  her  sisters  married  a  Truesdale,  and 
the  other  a  Dwelly. 

Capt.  Phillips  died  in  Ashfield  Aug.  10,  1800.  He  had  13  children,  11 
sons  and  two  daughters.  Each  of  his  sons  were  over  six  feet  tall,  and  formed 
a  platoon  or  military  company,  in  which  the  father  took  great  pride  in  exhib- 
iting at  trainings  and  on  other  public  occasions.  The  names  of  Capt.  Phillips's 
children  were  Elijah,  born  1759;  Abner,  1760;  Lemuel,  1762;  Philip,  Jr.,  1764; 
David,  1766;  Simeon,  1768;  Israel,  1770,  Joshua,  1771;  Abiather,  1773; 
Samuel,  1775;  Liscomb,  1777:  Hannah,  1779,  and  Anna,  1782. 

Elijah  Phillips,  born  Feb.  14,  1759,  married  Cynthia  Goodwin,  of  Ash- 
field, and  removed  to  West  Virginia,  where  he  died  in  1840.  They  had  17 
children.  Elijah,  Jr.,  married  Fannie  Rude,  and  had  a  family  of  10  children, 
some  of  whom  live  in  Buckland,  Mass.,  with  their  descendants.     Mabel  mar- 


379 

ried  Bliss  Forbes,  or  Forbush,  of  Ashfield.  Ansel,  Abiezer,  Mercy,  Eusebia, 
Lyman,  Cynthia,  Samantha,  Delia  married  Elias  Perry,  and  once  lived  in  Fre- 
donia,  N.  Y.  Edwin,  Lydia,  Jonathan  and  others  died  young,  all  children  of 
Elijah,  Sr.  His  descendants  in  West  Virginia  took  an  active  part  in  the 
Union  army  in  the  great  Rebellion.  They  were  noted  for  daring  bravery. 
One  of  Mercy's  sons  was  a  captain,  and  had  14  Phillips'  relatives  in  his  com- 
pany.    They  lived  at    French  Creek,  and  did  noble  service  during  the  war. 

Abner  Phillips,  born  March  25,  1760,  died  in  Ashfield,  Nov.  26,  1829. 
He  married  Molly  Cranson,  and  had  five  children. 

Lemuel  Phillips,  born  Nov.  26,  1762,  married  Sarah  Cranson,  or  Cranston, 
and  had  11  children.  He  died  April  28,  1843.  in  Ashfield.  It  is  stated  that 
he  had  1 1  children.  Many  of  the  descendants  of  Lemuel  Phillips  and  his 
brothers,  Israel,  Simeon  and  Samuel,  are  now  in  the  vicinity  of  Ashfield. 

Philip  Phillips,  Jr.,  was  born  July  29,  1764.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Smith,  only  daughter  of  Chileab  Smith,  Jr.,  of  Ashfield.  In  1816  they 
removed  to  Cassadaga,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  located  on  a  farm 
and  remained  until  their  death.  They  had  five  children:  Sawyer,  bom  1791; 
Elizabeth  married  John  Robinson  and  died  about  1828.  Esther  married  Israel 
Smith,  Jr.,  and  died  about  1S30.  Philip  died  about  1808,  aged  eight  years, 
and  Joshua,  who  died  in  Cassadaga,  unmarried,  aged  28.  Sawyer,  born  1791, 
married,  in  Cassadaga,  Jane  Parker,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Parker,  and 
granddaughter  of  Thomas  Parker,  of  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had  15 
children,  all  born  in  Cassadaga. 

Alonzo,  born  1821,  died  1826.  Thomas  D.,  1822,  resides  in  Cassadaga,  and 
has  three  children;  Williston,  1824,  lives  in  Casaadaga;  Rosina,  1825,  died  1836; 
Dr.  Alonzo  P.,  Dec.  28,  1826,  resides  in  Fredonia,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  has  an  elegant  home  on  a  high  bluff,  about  100  rods  from  the  center 
of  the  village,  surrounded  with  several  acres  of  the  choicest  gardens,  grape  i 
vines,  fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  etc.  Dr.  Phillips  has  been  a  practicing  phy-  i 
sician  in  Chautauqua  County  for  many  years.  He  has  mostly  retired  late 
years,  and  is  enjoying  the  well  earned  luxuries  of  a  long  and  active  profes-  \ 

sional  life.     His  wife  was  Miss  Fidelia  Wood,  a  daughter  of  Elijah  Wood,  ) 

and  his  wife,  Fidelia  Smith,  daugh^r  of  Ebenezer  Smith,  jr.     Mrs.  Dr.  Phil-  I        . 

lips  is  thus  a  great  granddaughter  of  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith,  a  celebrated  Bap-  ^  ^ 

tist  minister  in  the  early  history  of  Ashfield  (see  pages  71  and  98),  and  Dr. 
Phillips  is  a  great  grandson  of  Chileab  Smith,  jr.  (he  of  100  years  of  age), 
a  brother  of  Elder  Ebenezer.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  have  had  three  children, 
none  of  whom  are  now  living.  From  personal  acquaintance  the  writer  can 
say  that  they  are  most  genial  and  worthy  people.  They  have  aided  him  greatly 
in  furnishing  material  for  this  part  of  the  work. 

William  W.,  sixth  child  of  Sawyer  Phillips,  was  born  Oct.  8,  1S2S,  and 
now  resides  at  Cassadaga.     He  has  two  sons. 

Charles,  born  1830,  lives  at  Cassadaga.  Sawyer,  jr.,  born  1831,  died 
1854;  Joshua,  1833,  died  1850;  Philip,  bom  1834,  is  noted  as  the  "Singing 
Pilgrim,"  in  1880  be  published  a  volume  of  nearly  500  pages,  giving  an  account 
of  a  "  Song  Pilgrimage  Around  the  World, "  which  he  had  made,  a  most  inter- 
estinc  work,  giving  an  account  of  his  trip  with  numerous  incidents  comiected 
therewith.  • 


\> 


38o 

Rosina,  eleventh  child  of  Sawyer  Phillips,  was  boru  in  1836.  She  mar- 
ried M.  £.  Beebe,  and  resides  in  Fredonia.     She  has  one  son. 

Benjamin  C.  and  Alphonso  R.,  children  of  Sawyer,  died  young. 

George  H.,  born  1841,  resides  in  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  has  two  children. 

Zerah  Barney,  youngest  child  of  Sawyer,  born  1843,  died  in  1879,  leaving 
four  children.  Mr.  Sawyer  Phillips,  father  of  this  large  and  very  intelligent 
family,  died  in  1872,  in  Cassadaga;  his  wife  a  few  years  previously. 

David,  son  of  Capt.  Philip  Phillips,  of  Ashtield,  was  born  Feb.  2,  1766. 
He  married  Anna  Goodwin,  of  Ashfield.  They  had  nine  children.  DaNnd 
moved  to  West  Virginia  with  his  oldest  brother,  Elijah.  They  went  overland 
with  teams  and  wagons,  containing  their  families  and  goods. 

Simeon,  sixth  child  of  Capt.  Phillips,  was  bom  in  Ashfield,  June  1,  1768. 
He  married  Ruth  Andrews,  of  Ashfield,  a  very  superior  woman,  and  had  five 
children.  He  lived  in  Conway,  Mass.,  and  died  about  1855.  Their  children 
were:  James,  Phillip  M.,  Simeon,  jr.,  and  other?,,  who  died  young. 

Capt.  James  Puillips,  eldest  son  of  Simeon,  was  a  farmer  all  his  life  in 
Ashfield  and  Conway.  He  married  Mary  Ann  Wheeler,  and  had  two  chil- 
dren. Joseph,  a  farmer,  who  lives  in  Conway,  and  has  two  sons:  Charles,  in 
Hatfield,  Mass.,  a  fine  pianu  tuner,  and  James,  living  with  his  father  in  Con- 
way. Capt.  James  Phillips  had  a  daughter,  Harriet,  now  Mrs.  A.  P.  Eldred, 
residing  in  Springfield,  Mass.  She  has  two  sons:  Willis  and  Fred,  now  living 
in  the  same  city.  Capt  James  Phillips  died  in  Conway  about  1873,  at  an 
advanced  age.  a  few  weeks  after  the  death  of  his  wife. 

Philip  M.,  second  son  of  Simeon,  was  a  farmer,  and  spent  his  life  in  Ash- 
field and  Conway.  He  married  DoUie  Carrier,  a  woman  dearly  beloved  by 
all.  He  died  about  1879,  and  his  wife  two  years  later.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren, the  first  dying  in  infancy.  The  second,  Ruth,  now  Mrs.  Lee,  a  widow, 
living  in  Conway.  She  has  four  children.  George  married  and  living  in  Con- 
way; in  trade  there.  Frank,  unmarried.  Capt.  Eber,  unmarried,  a  carpen- 
ter in  W.  T.,  and  Nettie,  now  Mrs.  Eddy,  living  with  her  mother  in  Conway. 

Philip  M.'s  second  daughter,  Mary,  now  Mrs.  Emerson  Markham,  lives 
at  Hoosac  Falls,  N.  Y.,  where  her  husband  is  iu  trade.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren. ^ 

Philip  M.'s  third  daughter,  Julia,  now  Mrs.  R.  M  Tucker,  lives  at  Orange 
City,  Florida,  where  they  have  orange  groves. 

Simeon  Phillips,  jr.,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  Feb.  22,  1815,  at  a  house  sit- 
uated on  the  road  from  the  Plain  to  Bucklaud  four  corners,  and  about  half  way 
down  the  long  hill.  He  first  married  in  Plymouth,  Conn.,  Emily  Wolten. 
She  died  four  years  later  childless.  He  then  moved  back  to  Conway,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming,  and  married  Louisa  Carrier,  of  Hawley,  Mass.  After 
four  years  he  moved  to  Greenfield,  Msiss.,  where  he  now  lives;  he  is  a  machin- 
ist. They  had  three  childi^n;  Jennie  E.,  now  Mrs.  Frank  E.  Wood.  Mr. 
Wood  is  a  brick  mason  and  plasterer.  They  have  no  children,  and  live  with 
her  father,  Simeon.  Mr.  Simeon  Phillips  had  two  other  children,  who  died 
young.  His  wife,  Louisa,  lived  18  years,  after  which  he  was  married  14  years 
ago  to  Lucy  Wade — a  young  widow — had  two  children:  Raymond,  now  eight 
years,  a  very  bright  child,  and  Harold  M.,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Lucy 
Phillips  died  in  1884. 


38i 

Israel  Phillips  was  bom  May  23,  1770.  Although  not  a  doctor,  he  was, 
on  account  of  his  being  the  seventh  son,  called  ' '  Doc  "  Phillips,  from  a  super- 
stition then  popular  that  the  seventh  son  had  necessarily  some  mysterious  or 
curative  virtues  as  a  physician.  He  married  Mabel,  or  Mehitable  Belding, 
and  had  one  child,  Israel,  jr.,  who  married  Sabrina  Ward,  and  had  nine  chil- 
dren: Emeline  married  Henry  Barrows,  of  Ashfield;  John  W,  married  D.  D. 
Reniff,  of  Buckland;  Alonzo  married  Eliza  Green,  of  Ashfield;  Winsor,  unmar- 
ried, accidentally  shot  and  killed,  aged  37;  Louis  married  Henry  Green,  of 
Ashfield;  Mabel  married  Alonzo  Paine,  of  Ashfield;  Edwin  married  Eliza  Ann 
Phillips,  of  Ashfield;  Ann  Eliza  married  Henry  Bassett,  of  Ashfield,  and 
Ralph,  who  married  Mrs.  E.  M.  Wilder.  Israel  PhUlips,  Sr.  and  Jr.,  lived 
all  their  lives  at  No.  56  on  the  map. 

Joshua,  son  of  Capt.  Philip  Phillips,  born  Nov.  30,  1771,  died  unmarried^ 
May  9,  1826,  iu  Ashfield. 

Abiather  Phillips,  born  Oct.  27,  1773,  married  Hannah  Ranney.  They 
moved  about  1316  to  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  they  lived  for  a  time,  and 
from  there  to  Allegany,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  about  1830,  where  they  died  about 
1858.  They  had  11  children:  Esther  married  a  Leach,  and  lived  and  died  in 
Michigan;  Ann  married  Elias  Fish,  and  died  in  Minnesota;  Eliza  married 
Robert  Wilbur,  had  three  children,  and  lived  in  Cattaraugus  Co. ;  Abiather, 
jr.,  married  Amanda  Ellis  (one  of  Barzillia  Ellis'  descendants  of  Chautauqua 
Co.)  had  one  child,  and  lived  in  Hillsdale.  Mich;  George  married  M.  Andrus,  V 
had  four  children;  lived  and  died  in  Wattsbury,  Penn. ;  Samuel  Ranney  Phil-  / 
lips  married  Safronia  Smith,  had  three  children,  and  lived  and  died  in  Catta- 
raugus Co.;  William  H.  married  Elmira  McClure,  and  lives  in  Clearwater, 
Minn. ;  Charles  married  Elmira  Blackman,  and  lived  in  Cerro  Gordo,  Iowa;  John 
married  Mrs.  Saf rona  Hughes,  and  lived  in  Allegany,  Cattaraugus  Co. ,  N.  Y . 
Alonzo  died  in  Michigan,  unmarried.  Harriet,  youngest  child  of  Abiather 
and  Hannah  Ranney  Phillips,  lives  with  her  brother,  William  H.,  in  Minn. 

Samuel,  tenth  son  of  Capt.  Philip  PhUlips,  of  Ashfield,  was  born  Aug. 
14,  1775.  He  married  Sally  Ranney,  and  had  six  children:  Sally,  born  1794, 
married  a  Mansfield,  and  died  in  1853;  Rachel  married  Ansel  Elmer;  Emily 
married  a  Bassett;  Francis  married,  and  his  son,  Francis  K,  Phillips,  now 
lives  at  or  near  58  on  the  map  of  Ashfield;  Ann  E.,  born  1803,  and  Anson. 

Liscom,  youngest  son  of  Captain  Philip  Phillips,  was  born  March  23, 
1777.  He  married  Nancy  Padelford,  and  had  nine  children.  He  was  a  phy- 
sician, and  lived  in  South  Adams,  Mass.  He  died  Oct.  10,  1821.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Henry  P.,  bom  1807,  was  a  physician  in  North  Adams.  He  died 
in  1880.  Sarah,  bom  in  Savoy,  i\:ass.,  in  1808,  married  William  Smith; 
Erasmus  D.,  bom  1810,  resides  in  Geneva  Wis. ;  Charles  F.  lives  in  Black- 
water,  Wis.;  William,  bom  in  South  Adams,  died  at  11  years  of  age;  Julia 
Ann  married  S.  E.  Dean,  of  South  Adams;  Benjamin  F.  married  Miss  Moran, 
and  second,  O'Neil;  Albert  Liscom,  youngest  child  of  Dr.  Liscom  Phillips, 
was  born  in  1821;  he  married  a  Miss  Green,  and  resides  in  Racine,  Wis. 

Hannah,  daughter  of  Capt.  Philip  Phillips,  was  born  Feb.  5,  1779.  She 
married  Mr.  Henry  Bassett,  one  of  the  principal  citizens  of  Ashfield.  She 
died  Feb.  14,  1849.  It  is  said  she  had  nine  children.  Many  of  her  descend- 
ants are  now  living  in  Ashfield  and  vicinity.     Esquire'  Bassett's  children  have 


\ 


38« 

often  heard  their  mother  relate  how  the  family  used  to  go  from  their  cabin 
down  to  the  Ellis  and  Phillips  fort  to  stay  nights  from  fear  of  the  Indiana. 

Anna,  youngest  child  of  Capt.  Phillips,  was  born  Oct.  27,  1782.  She 
married  Ebenezer  Porter,  of  Ash  Held,  a  grandson  of  Rev.  Nehemiah  Porter,  a 
celebrated  Congregational  minister  of  Ashfield.  She  is  also  grandmother  of 
Mr.  Lewis  Porter,  the  present  landlord  of  the  "Ashfield  House,"  on  the 
Plain.     She  died  Dec.  26,  1820,  leaving  six  children. 

Of  Thomas  Phillips,  sr's,  other  children:  Simeon,  born  1742;  Charity, 
1744,  and  Elizabeth,  1749;  the  writer  gets  no  further  report.  They  probably 
left  Ashfield  in  an  early  day.  The  Congregational  church  records  say  that  in 
1770  Simeon  Phillips  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a  tree,  but  his  age  is  not 
given.  There  was  a  Simeon  Phillips  on  the  valuation  list  for  1766,  but  his 
name  does  not  appear  on  the  list  for  1771.  Hence,  he  may  have  been  this 
second  son  of  Thomas  Phillips,  sr. ,  and  brother  of  Capt.  Philip  Phillips.  There 
were  other  Simeons,  but  they  came  on  later. 

Sarah,  daughter  of  Thomas,  sr.,  was  born  1752,  and  died  Dec.  22,  1822, 
aged  70.  She  married  Elisha  Cranson,  jr.  He  died  May  27,  1813,  aged  62. 
She  married  (second)  Zachariah  Howes.  One  grandchild  and  later  genera- 
tions of  hers  are  now  in  Ashfield. 

Caleb,  supposed  to  be  a  son  of  Thomas,  sr.,  married  about  1780,  Sally 
Green,  of  Ashfield.  They  had  six  or  more  children  baptized  at  the  Congrega- 
tional church.  Early  in  this  century  they  moved  on  to  a  farm  in  Phelps,  N. 
y.,  and  died  there,  where  they  have  descendant-s. 

Thomas  Phillips,  jr.,  son  of  Thomas  Phillips,  sr.,  bom  June  7,  1747,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Noyes,  and  resided  in  Ashfield  until  his  death,  July  9,  1829. 
They  were  married  in  Eaaton,  Nov.  7,  1771.  Their  children  were:  Hhoda 
married  Enoch  King;  Molly  (or  Mary)  married  Zenas  Elmer;  Betsey  married 
Roger  Bronson;  Rachel  married  Samuel  Bronson;  Dorcas  married  Rev.  Ibri 
Cannon,  and  Russel,  born  1785.  married  Rhoda  Williams,  eldest  daughter  of 
ApoUos  Williams  and  Hannah  Ellis,  his  wife  (see  page  101). 

Dorcas  Phillips,  daughter  and  youngest  child  of  Thomas,  jr.,  was  a  woman 
of  remarkable  piety  and  loveliness  of  character.  Aged  residents  of  Ashfield 
remember  her  as  "the  most  gifted  person  [in  prayer]  in  all  that  section." 
At  30  years  of  age  she  married  Rev.  Ibri  Cannon,  a  Methodist  minister,  and 
lived  in  Troy,  N.  Y.  She  had  several  children.  One  of  her  daughters,  Achsah, 
now  Mrs.  Thomas  M.  Dunham,  lives  at  Ocean  Grove,  N.  J.  She  is  a  highly 
educated  and  accomplished  lady,  and  has  a  family  of  four  daughters.  Her 
parents  are  both  dead.    Mr.  Cannon,  her  father,  died  in  Troy  many  years  ago. 

Thomas  Phillips,  jr.,  had  another  son  (brother  of  "Uncle  Russ"),  who 
left  home  when  young,  of  whom  no  trace  has  since  been  had  by  his  relatives. 
This  may  have  been  Caleb.  Many  of  Thomas  Phillips,  sr's,  descendants  are 
etill  in  town,  but  they  are  descendants  of  Capt.  Philip  Phillips.  Thomas,  jr., 
lived  with  his  son,  Russell,  in  a  gambrel- roofed  house,  nearly  opposite  No.  32, 
on  the  map,  where  he  died  in  1829.  This  place  was  just  west  of  where  Mr. 
Houghton  Smith  now  lives.  It  is  said  that  none  of  his  descendants  are  now 
in  Ashfield. 

Of  the  other  Phillipses,  of  Ashfield,  the  writer  gets  but  little  informa- 
tion. Vespasian,  Richard,  John,  Spencer,  Pelatiah,  Benjamin,  Caleb  and 
others  lived  there  in  an  early  day,  100  years  and  more  ago.     Vespasian  Phil- 


383 

lips  married  Abilena  Belding,  May  7,  1772.  Tiieir  names  were  on  the  Baptist 
Ohurch  records  in  1798,  and  were  dismissed  in  1803.  Their  daughter,  Abilena, 
married  John  Ellis,  jr.,  and  settled  in  Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  (see  page  110). 

Richard  is  said  to  have  been  a  brother  of  Mercy,  wife  of  Captain  Philip. 
He  joined  the  Baptist  Church  in  1766.  His  house  was  a  little  east  of  O  on 
the  map.  He  is  said  to  have  had  several  children,  and  Spencer,  Vespasian, 
Petetiah  and  John  may  have  been  his  sons.  John  joined  the  Baptist  church 
in  1773,  and  died  in  1776.     Pelatiah  married  Cynthia  Wait  in  1789. 

Caleb  Phillips  was  early  spoken  of  as  tender  of  the  corn  mill.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  he  was  either  a  brother  of  Thomas,  sr.,  or  Richard.  He  disap- 
peared soon,  ami  about  1780  another  Caleb  joins  the  Congregational  church; 
also  Daniel.  Caleb  has  first  child  baptized  in  1787,  and  a  number  more  up 
to  1800.  About  this  time  he  went  to  Phelps,  N.  Y.  There  was  a  general 
exodus  from  AshSeld  about  this  time  to  central  and  western  New  York. 

Spencer  Phillips  married,  Nov.  28,  1783,  Dorcas,  the  widow  of  Bildad 
Flower,  who  died  in  the  Revolutionary  army  (see  page  112).  One  of  his  sons, 
Spencer,  jr.,  lived  in  Ohio,  near  Sandusky,  about  1850.  Another  son,  Bildad, 
settled  at  Clarkston,  Mich.,  About  1835.  He  died  thgre  about  1862.  His 
widow  and  several  sons  live  there  now — Theodore  and  Sylvester,  and  two 
daughters,  Mrs.  Jane  Vliet  and  Mrs.  Ruth  West,  and  a  grandson,  Clarence 
Phillips. 

Hon.  S.  W.  Smith,  of  Pontiac,  Mich.,  is  another  grandson  of  Bildad's. 
Mr.  Bildad  Phillips  was  born  in  Ashfield  in  1797,  and  his  wife  about  1808. 

Samuel  and  Daphne  (Butler)  Phillips  lived  in  Deerfield.  It  is  not  known 
whether  they  were  of  the  Ashtield  Phillipses  or  not.  Their  daughter  Theo- 
docia  married  Ebenezer  Ellis  (see  page  159). 


THE  KANNEYS. 


Thomas  Ranney,  believed  to  be  the  progenitor  of  all  of  the  name  in 
America,  was  born  in  Scotland  in  the  year  1616,  the  year  of  Shakspeare's 
death.  He  migrated,  when  young,  to  this  country,  and  was  one  of  the  orig- 
inal settlers  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  being  one  of  the  15  or  20  who  first  struck 
the  axe  into  the  forest  at  that  place.  In  May,  1659,  at  the  age  of  43  years, 
he  married  Mary,  aged  17,  daughter  of  George  Hubbard,  also  an  early  settler 
there. 

He  subssquently  purchased  the  homestead  and  other  lands  of  George 
Graves,  situated  in  the  south  part  of  that  part  of  Middletown  called  "Upper 
Houses,"  since  1850  known  as  the  town  of  Cromwell,  beside  the  Connecticut 
river.  It  is  the  location  on  which  the  Meriden  Railroad  Company  have  built 
their  depot.  The  house  which  stood  on  the  street  at  the  west  end  of  the  land 
Mas  the  home  of  the  adventurer  and  the  birth-place  of  four  generations  of  his 
descendants.     The  deed  of  sale  to  Mr.  Ranney  was  made  Nov.  17,  1663. 

He  was  energetic  and  thrifty,  and  was  rated  second  in  amount  on  the 
township  tax  list  of  1670,  and  was  identified  with  the  settlement  and  growth 
of  the  town.  He  lived  54  years  with  the  bride  of  17,  and  died  June  25,  1713, 
aged  97,  being  the  first  one  buried  in  the  second  cemetery  consecrated  for 


x 


384 

burial  purposes  in  Middletown.  As  the  snows  of  almost  a  century  of  winters 
ha<l  silvered  his  locks,  he  was  doubtless  one  of  the  very  last  of  that  patri- 
archal band  of  pioneers  who  first  settled  in  the  town. 

His  wife  survived  him  some  eight  years;  the  record  of  her  death  being 
Dec.  18,  1721,  aged  79.  The  inscription  on  his  headstone  is  nearly  illegible, 
and  there  is  no  other  stone  of  the  shape  of  that  which  marks  the  grave  of  this 
first  American  Ranney.     At  times  he  wrote  his  name  Rheny. 

This  has  been  a  highly  respectable  and  moral  family  for  more  than  two 
centuries;  many  of  their  posterity  have  helped  the  new  States,  and  a  few 
remain  in  the  land  of  their  fathers.  And  it  has  been  a  prolific  race,  embrac- 
ing several  thousands  who  have  lived  in  this  country,  the  names  of  several 
hundreds  of  whom  are  in  possession  of  the  writer. 

1.  Thomas  Kanney,  farmer,  born  in  the  year  1616,  in  Scotland;  settled 
at  Middletown,  Conn.;  d.  June  25,  lll'.i,  aged  97;  ra.  in  ISoQ,  Mary  Hubbard; 
she  died  Dec.  18,  1721,  aged  79.     They  had  10  children. 

Their  children:  Thomas,  jr.,  born  March  14,  1661  (2). 

John,  bom  Nov.  16,  1662;  married,  in  1693,  Hannah  Turner.  Had  eight 
children.  ^ 

Joseph,  bom  Sept.,  166.3;  m.  in  1693,  Mary  Starr;  had  eight  children;  he 
died  iu  1745. 

Mary,  bom  Oct.,  1665;  m.  John  Savage,  jr.;  had  11  children;  she  died  in 
1734. 

Elizabeth,  born  April  12,  1668;  m.  in  1698,  Jonathan  Warner;  had  two 
children;  she  died  Feb.  11,  1737. 

Esther,  born  in  1674;  m.  1696,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Savage;  had  nine  chil- 
dren; died  April  1,  1750. 

Ebenezer,  born  1678;  m.  1698,  Sarah  Warner;  had  five  children;  died 
1754.  aged  76. 

Hannah,  bom ;  m.  Samuel  Wilcox;  died  Nov.  29,  1713. 

Margaret,  bom ;  m.  Stephen  Clark,  of  New  Haven. 

Abigail  (twin  of  Margaret),  born  ;  m.  Walter  Harris,  of  Glaston- 
bury; had  one  child,  and  died  Dec.  15,  1714. 

2.  Thomas  Ranney,  son  of  Thomas,  (1);  born  Aug.  14,  1661,  farmer; 
removed  in  1710  across  the  river  and  settled  in  Chatham;  died  Feb.  6,  1727; 
he  married.  May,  1690,  Rebecca  WUlet,  of  Hartford;  she  married,  second, 
Dec.  16,  1729,  Jacob  White;  they  had  seven  children. 

Children:  Thomas,  bom  Aug.  14,  1692,  (3);  Willet,  born  March  30,  1694; 
m.  April  20,  1720,  Anna  Johnson;  she  died  March  29,  1731;  he  m.,  second, 
Dec.  23,  1732,  Deborah  White,  and  had  six  children;  George,  bom  Oct.  28, 
1695  (4);  Rebecca,  born  Dec.  10,  1700;  Nathaniel,  bom  June  17,  1702;  died 
Sept.  25,  1766;  m.  Jan.  16,  1734,  Rebecca  Sage;  had  eight  children;  Ann, 
bora  July  23,  1706;  Margaret,  bom  Aug.  21,  1708. 

3.  Thomas  Ranney,  son  of  Thomas  (2);  bom  Aug.  14,  1692;  died  1764; 
m.  Feb.  26,  1720,  Esther,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Silence  Wilcox. 

Children:  Jeremiah,  bom  July  1.3,  1721;  m.  Martha  Stow,  and  have  chil- 
dren; he  removed  to  Woodford,  Conn.;  Thomas,  bom  Feb.  13,  1723;  m.  Mary 
Little,  and  removed  to  Westminster,  Vt. ;  had  two  children;  Ephraim,  bom 
April  10,  1725;  died  1762;  m.  Nov.  26,  1747,  Silence  Wilcox;  had  seven  sons 
and  four  daughters.     He  accumulated  for  those  days  much  wealth,  giving 


385 

each  child  at  their  marriage  $1,000,  and  leaving  a  large  dividend  at  death.  In 
1760  they  removed  to  Westminster,  Vt.  He  was  prominent,  and  an  active, 
influential  Christian;  for  many  years  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational  church. 
With  but  few  exceptions,  his  descendants  have  followed  him  in  his  religious 
faith,  many  of  whom  have  been  professional  men,  and  among  whom  were  Dr. 
W.  R.  Hanney,  late  Lieut.  Governor  of  Vermont,  and  Ambrose  A.  Ranney, 
late  Representative  in  Congress  from  Massachusetts. 

4,  George  Ranney,  son  of  Thomas  (2);  born  Oct.  28,  1695;  died  March 
26,  1725,  aged  29;  his  wife,  Mary,  died  Nov.  26,  1749. 

Children:  George,  born  1723  (5);  a  daughter,  born  1725;  died  young. 

6.  George  Ranney,  son  of  George  (4);  born  1723;  lived  in  Chatham,  now 
Portland,  Conn.;  died  Feb.  23,  1804,  aged  81;  he  m.  Jan.  23,  1746,  Hannah 
Sage;  she  died  June  9,  1797;  had  nine  children. 

Children:  George,  born  Jan.  9,  1747  (6);  Thomas,  born  July  6,  1749  (7); 
Francis,  born  April  19,  1753(8);  Hannah,  bom  May  9,  1755;  m.  Joel  Hall; 
her  sons  were  Capt.  Joel,  Samuel,  Joseph  and  Jesse  Hall;  Molly,  born  June 
9,  1757;  m.  a  Bosworth;  Esther,  born  Jan.  8,  1761;  m.  a  Parks;  Lucy,  born 
Sept.  6,  1763;  m.  Seth  Knowle^;  Jonathan,  born  Sept.  3,  1765;  died  in  1831; 
m.  Sally  Parsons;  she  died  in  1851;  they  had  nine  children;  Nabby,  bom 
about  1767;  m.  C^>t.  Ithamar  Pelton. 

6.  George  Ranney,  son  of  George  (5);  born  Jan.  9,  1747,  at  Chatham, 
Ct.;  waa  in  early  life  in  the  West  India  trade;  he  died  in  Ashfield,  Jan.  14, 
1822,  aged  75  years;  he  m.  in  1770,  Esther,  daughter  of  Capt.  Samuel  Hall; 
ahe  died  March  3,  1807,  aged  56;  ra.,  second,  Aug.  8,  1809,  to  Alithea,  widow 
of  Oliver  Patch;  she  died  Ahg.  6,  1827,  aged  76.  In  the  spring  of  the  year 
1780  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Ashfield,  where  he  had  purchased  from 
Lamberton  Allen  the  100  acre  farm  now  owned  by  Charles  Howes.  Only  a 
small  portion  of  the  original  forest  had  been  cleared  from  his  land,  and  a  house 
of  logs  was  the  only  dwelling  place  ready  for  their  reception.  That  house 
was  on  the  hillside,  some  35  or  40  rods  westerly  from  the  residence  of  Charles 
Howes,  where  the  site  is  yet  visible.  He  was  a  man  of  industry  and  perse- 
verance. To  clear  and  bring  his  land  into  proper  condition  for  crops,  a  great 
outlay  of  strength  and  vigor  was  required,  but  with  the  ultimate  help  of  his 
rugged  boys  growing  up  around  him,  he  accomplished  the  task,  and  the  farm 
became  one  of  the  best  in  the  tovmship,  and  here  he  brought  up  his  large 
family  of  children.  Upon  the  location,  in  1798,  of  the  new  county  road 
through  this  farm,  leading  from  South  Ashfield  to  the  Plain  village,  Mr.  Ran- 
ney erected  the  substantial  two  story  house  where  Mr.  Howe  resides  (37  on 
map,  page  328.)  Mr.  Ranney  was  for  more  than  40  years  identified  with  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  town;  a  man  of  retiring  disposition;  an  exem- 
plary character,  and  much  esteemed.  His  religious  associations  were  with  the 
Society  of  CongregationaKsts.     His  children  were: 

Samuel,  born  March  6,  1772  (9);  Sarah,  bom  Dec.  20,  1773;  died  Jan.  11, 
1774;  Jesse,  born  Oct.  13,  1775  (10);  Joseph,  bom  July,  1777  (11);  Hannah, 
born  Oct.  3,  1781;  m.  Dec.  4,  1800;  Abiather,  son  of  Philip  Phillips,  Esq.; 
they  had  12  children;  she  died  July  28,  1857;  Esther,  born  March  5,  1784; 
m.  May  3,  1804,  Benjamin  Jones,  jr.;  he  died  Sept.  20,  1804;  she  married, 
second,  July  27,  1809,  Forest  Jepson;  they  had  12  children;  he  d.  Sept.  20, 


i 


386 

1844;  she  d.  Aug.  23,  18B2;  Anna,  born  June  20,  178(5;  m.  Nov.  27,  18(Ki, 
James  McFarland,  Esq.;  had  four  children:  George,  born  May  12,  1789  (12), 

7.  Thomas  Kanney,  son  of  George  (5);  born  July  (5,  1749;  settled  in  Ash- 
field  about  1792,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Chauncey  Boice;  died  April  20, 
1823,  aged  72,  m.  widow  Mary  Miles;  she  died  Oct.  5,  1819,  aged  72. 

Children:  Persis,  born ;  m.  Feb.   1,  1801,  Moses,  son  of  Dr.  Phineas 

Bartlett;    Catherine,   born    ;  m.    Jan.    1,    1799,    Wm.    Balding;  Roswell, 

bom  Nov.  22,  1782  (13);  William,  born  June  30,  1785  (14). 

S.  Francis  Ranney,  son  of  George  (5);  born  April  19,  1753;  settled  in 
Ashfield,  Feb.,  1786,  in  south  part  of  the  town,  where  Charles  F.  Howes 
lives;  died  April  7,  1804,  aged  51;  m.  Rachel,  daughter  of  Capt.  Samuel  Hall; 
she  d.  1827.     He  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier. 

Children:  Sally,  m.  Samuel,  son  of  .Philip  Phillips,  Esq.;  Giles,  born 
Aug,  15,  1773;  Daniel  (16),  born  1776;  moved  to  LeRoy,  N.  Y.;  m.  Anna 
Bittern;  Dr.  Geo.  E.  Ranney,  now  or  formerly  Sec.  of  State  Medical  Society, 
at  Lansing,  Mich.,  is  a  grandson  of  Daniel.  His  children:  Charlotte,  Joel, 
Hezekiah,  Ozias,  Julia  and  Laura  Ann;  Betsey,  m.  Feb.  17,  1802,  had  five 
children;  Ruth,  m.  Josiah  Wells;  Luther,  i>orn  Sept.  6,  1785;  Rachel,  m. 
an  Eastman;  Lucy   m.  Enos  Bush. 

9.  Samuel  Ranney,  son  of  George  (6);  bom  March  ^,  1772;  settled  in 
Ashfield  on  the  farm  next  south  of  his  father's.  In  1821  he  built  the  two-story 
brick  house  that  is  yet  standing  there.  In  1836  he  removed  to  Phelps,  N.  Y., 
where  he  died  June  27,  1837;  m.  1795,  Polly  Stewart,  of  Branford,  Conn.; 
she  died  in  Michigan  about  1850. 

Children:  Lucretia,  bora  June  17,  1796;  she  d.  May  17,  1879  at  School- 
craft, Mich.;  she  m.,  1816,  Lemuel  Sears;  he  d.  May  28,  1819;  she  m., 
second,  1820,  Col.  Nehemiah  Hathaway,  blacksmith;  he  died  1844,  at  Grand 
Rapids,  Mich.;  she  had  five  children;  Charles  W.  and  his  son,  Charles  S.,  both 
living  in  Detroit,  Mich. ;  Emily,  who  married  James  D.  Lyon,  of  Grand  Rapids, 
and  another  daughter  who  married  Dr.  Freeman,  of  Schoolcraft.  [Mrs.  Lu- 
cretia Ranney  Hathaway  was  a  woman  of  unusual  intelligence  and  worth.  She 
lived  many  years  at  Grand  Rapids  after  the  death  of  her  husband;  the  last 
few  years  with  her  daughter  in  Schoolcraft.]  Braddock,  bom  May  20,  1800: 
d.  Sept.  6,  1803;  Harriet,  born  March  12,  1802;  d.  Aug.  22,  1803;  William, 
born  Oct.  23,  1805;  he  moved  to  Michigan  about  1838;  was,  in  1860,  living  in 
Iowa;  postmaster  and  deacon;  m.,  1828,  (?)  Eliza  Ann  Smith;  she  died  April  16, 
1832;  he  again  m.,  and  had  several  children;  is  now  living  in  Potawotamie, 
Kansas;  Dexter,  bom  June  5,  1808;  was  drowned  Aug.  22.  1850,  in  Grand 
River,  Mich.;  m.  Laura  Robinson;  Lucius,  born' June  17,  1812;  d.  Feb.  1, 
1815;  Julia,  born  Nov.  7,  1815;  d.  Sept.,  1838,  unmarried;  Emily,  bora  Jan. 
9,  1818;  died  April  22,  1837;  she  m.,  April  12,  1837,  at  Phelps,  N.  Y.,  Dr. 
James  Davis;  Frederick  T.  was  born  March  12,  1820;  he  married  and  settled 
in  Grand  Haven,  Mich,  where  he  was  in  the  lumber  business  many  years. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married,  in  1857,  Miss  Fannie  A.  Bates, 
a  very  estimable  lady,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr. 
Ranney  lived  in  Petoskey,  Mich.,  10  or  12  of  his  last  years,  where  he  died 
about  1885.  His  eldest  son,  Frederick  T.,  m.  Jan.  26,  1887,  Miss  Mary  E. 
Balch,  dau.  of  Geo.  W.  Balch,  Esq.,  of  Detroit,  Mich.  Mr.  R,  lives  in 
Detroit,  where  he  is  doing  a  larfi:6  and  successful  business  in  real  estate.     He 


387 

graduated  at  Williams  College,  Mass,  in  1884.  His  mother  and  her  three 
younger  'children  now  live  in  Olivet,  Mich.,  where  the  children  are  being 
educated  in  Olivet  College.  Mr.  Ranney  was  a  very  active  business  man, 
and  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  his  children  give  promise  of 
great  usefulness.  Samuel  H.  is  a  son  by  his  first  wife;  m.  and  lives  at  Grant! 
Rapids,  Mich,  (a  lumberman);  and  a  dau.  Mary,  who  married  Albert  D.  Reed, 
of  Batavia,  111. 

Of  Mr.  Ranney's  children,  by  his  second  marriage,  Fred  T.  was  born  Apr. 
19,  1859;  Florence,  1862— living  in  Detroit;  Lewis  J.,  1872;  Elizabeth,  1875; 
Francis  A.,  1877. 

lO.  Jesse  Ranney,  son  of  George  (6);  bom  Oct.  13,  1775,  at  Chatham, 
Conn. ;  settled  on  the  farm  in  Ashfield  next  north  of  his  father's;  built  a  house 
on  that  farm,  which  he  sold  to  his  brother  Joseph,  and  in  1818  removed  to  the 
large  farm  in  AshBeld  that  he  purchased  of  David  Ellis  [see  page  86],  where 
he  died  July  18,  1861,  aged  86  years.  For  many  years  he  had  been  a  con- 
sistent and  worthy  member  of  the  Baptist  church;  was  a  man  of  sterling  good 
sense;  of  retiring  disposition;  of  exemplary  life,  and  most  esteemed  by  those 
who  knew  him  best.     He  m.,  Dec.  5,  1798,  Ruth,  dau.  of  Bildad  Flower. 

Children:  James,  born  Sept.  15,  1799;  Bildad,  born  Feb.  27,  1802;  d. 
Aug.  4,  1815;  Charles,  born  Dec.  4,  1803;  Hannah,  born  Dec.  16,  1805;  m. 
Nov.,  1827,  Richard,  son  of  Dimick  Ellis,  Esq.;  Erastus,  born  Oct.  8,  1807; 
Amanda,  born  Aug.  17,  1809;  died  Oct.  19,  1884;  m.,  March,  1829,  Elijah 
Richmond;  m.  (2)  Wilson  Elmer;  she  had  three  children;  Edwin,  born  July 
25,  1811;  Polly,  born  Feb.  16,  1815;  m.  Augustus  F.  Daniels;  Lucretia,  bom 
Feb.  7,  1819;  m.  Darius  Cross;  Ruth- Ann,  born  June  23,  1821;  m.  Sylvester 
W.  Hall. 

[Of  these  children  of  Jesse  and  Ruth  Ranney,  the  following  may  further 
be  said:  James  m.  Sally  Andrews,  and  lived  at  67  on  the  map,  whpre  he 
raised  a  large  family  of  children.  About  1878  he  and  his  wife  came  to  Beld- 
ing,  Mich. ,  where  they  lived  three  or  four  years  with  their  daughter,  Mrs. 
Field,  a  widow,  and  their  son,  Charles.  Mrs.  Field  married  Mr.  Wheeler, 
and  moved  upon  a  farm  in  Augusta,  Mich,  (near  Kalamazoo),  where  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  James  Ranney  died  about  1883,  at  advanced  ages.  They  were  very 
worthy  and  highly  respected  people.  Their  children  were:  Jane  (dead)  m.  a 
Woodbridge;  Caroline  (dead)  ^m.  Alden  and  Young;  William,  Charles,  .Tames 
H.  (dead);  has  a  widow  and  several  children  in  Hartford,  Conn.;  Elizabeth 
m.  Field  and  Wheeler;  has  two  children:  Edgar  Field  and  a  daughter,  in 
Hartford,  Conn.;  Austin  in  Concord,  N.  H.,  and  Silvador  0.  Ranney,  in 
Hartford,  Conn. 

Charles  Ranney,  son  of  Jesse,  m.  Sarah  Hall,  and  had  two  children.  He 
remained  on  the  farm  in  Ashfield  and  took  care  of  his  parents.  He  died 
about  1870.  Mrs.  Sarah  R.  died  about  1847,  and  he  again  m.  Mrs.  Nancy 
Davis,  and  had  two  sons.  Mrs.  Nancy  Ranney  died  many  years  ago  in  Ash- 
field. Mr.  Charles  Ranney's  children  are  all  living.  Martha,  wife  of  Theo- 
dore Wood,  lives  in  Shelburne  Falls,  Mass.;  George  in  Portland,  Mich., 
unmarried;  Thomas  and  Frederick  E.,  in  Belding,  Mich.;  Fred.  E.  m.  Mary  L. 
Ellis  (see  page  258). 

Hannah  Ranney,  mother  of  the  writer  (751),  m.  Richard  Ellis.  She  now 
lives  at  Belding,  Mich,,  in  her  83d  year  (see  page  175). 


388 

Erastus  Ranney,  son  of  Jesse,  left  Ashfield  when  a  young  man  and  settled 
on  a  farm  four  miles  east  of  Eaton  Rapids,  Mich.,  where  he  and  his  wife  now 
live  in  comfort,  with  their  only  son,  Charles.  Their  only  daughter,  Climena, 
died  in  1887.  They  are  most  worthy  people,  and  enjoy  the  esteem  of  all  in 
that  region  of  country,  where  they  have  lived  nearly  60  years. 

Amanda  Ranney  m.  Elijah  Richmond,  and  lived  for  a  few  years  in  the 
north  part  of  Ashfield,  about  20  rods  north  of  the  Ellis  and  Phillips  fort,  where 
their  children  were  born — Alanson,  Diadema  and  Lucretia.  Alanson  now 
lives  on  a  farm  near  Shelbume  Falls.  Diadema,  now  dead,  m.  Mr.  Whiting, 
and  lived  in  Shelburne  Falls  many  years,  where  her  sister  Lucretia,  now  Mrs, 
Ware,  lives,  with  her  husband  and  married  daughter.  Mr.  Elijah  Richmond 
was  a  man  of  unusual  enterprise  and  capacity.  He  died  about  1850.  His 
widow,  Amanda,  m.  Wilson  Elmer,  about  1870,  and  lived  in  Ashfield,  a  few 
rods  east  of  No.  35,  where  she  and  Mr.  Elmer  both  died,  about  1885. 

Edwin  Ranney,  son  of  Jesse,  was  a  cooper,  lived  in  Pittstown,  N.  Y., 
when  a  young  man,  where  he  m  Eliza  Button,  a  very  superior  young  woman. 
After  n  few  years  they  removed  to  Belding  and  purchased  a  farm,  one-half 
mile  north  of  the  village,  where  Mr.  Jerome  Vincent  now  lives.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Edwin  J.,  Marcia  (m.  a  Smith),  Alvor,  Franklin,  Loudon,  Cora 
and  Charles.  Mrs.  fUiza  Ranney  died  about  1870.  Mr.  Edwin  Ranney  lives 
most  of  the  time  with  his  son,  K  J. ,  on  the  latter's  farm,  near  Hnngerford, 
Mich.  Alvor,  Franklin  and  Loudon  are  in  Colorado,  on  a  ranch  near  Bear 
river. 

Polly  Ranney  m.  Augustus  Frederick  Daniels  and  settled  on  a  farm  six 
miles  south  of  Adrian,  Mich.,  about  1840,  where  they  had  three  children, 
Mrs.  Polly  Daniels  died  about  1870,  and  Mr,  Daniels  married  again  and  still 
lives  on  his  farm. 

Lucretia  Ranney  m.  Darius  Cross  in  Ashfield.  They  settled  on  a  farm 
four  miles  south  of  Adrian,  Mich.,  about  1840,  where  they  now  live,  on  a  large 
and  valuable  farm.     They  have  one  son,  Edwin,  and  two  daughters. 

Ruth  Ann  Ranney,  youngest  daughter  of  Jesse,  m.  Sylvester  Woodbridge 
Hall  in  Ashfield.  They  have  lived  in  Greenfield,  Mass. ,  many  years,  as  do 
also  their  children.] 

1 1.  Joseph  I^anney,  son  of  George  (6),  bom  July,  1777.  He  died  Jan- 
uary 15,  1838.  Early  in  life  he  worked  for  many  years  as  a  stonecutter,  at 
the  Chatham  quarry,  for  his  uncle.  In  1818  he  settled  in  Ashfield,  upon  the 
place  he  bought  of  his  brother  Jesse.  He  m.  Sarah  Allen.  She  d.  Sept.  9, 
1825;  m.  (second)  Feb.,  1826,  Tempey  Eldredge;  he  m.  (third)  May  17,  1831, 
Lucy  Selden,  widow  of  Lemuel  Eldredge.  Mr.  Ranney  was  killed  in  his  wood 
lot,  in  Ashfield,  by  a  blow  from  a  falling  tree.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church. 

Children:  Clarissa,  b,  1803;  d.  before  1830;  unmarried.  Harriet,  b. 
Sept.,  1805;  m.  Lyman  Williams.  Emily,  bom  Dec,  1808;  died  April  5,  1811. 
Samuel  A.,  born  Sept.,  1811;  lives  in  Ashfield;  m.  Sept.,  1836,  Flora,  dau.  of 
Jesse  Selden;  had  six  children.  Edward,  bom  Nov.  9,  1814;  d.  Dec.  15,  1839; 
m.  Nov.  1837;  Marvilla  Selden,  she  m.  (second)  Levi  Gardner;  no  children. 
Sarah  Amelia,  born  Nov.,  1817;  m.  Levi  C.  Kingman.  Eliza  Ann,  b.  Sept.  9, 
1820;  m.  Samuel  Kingman.  Sabra,  b.  Dec.  25,  1828;  m.  May,  1848,  Oscar 
Richardson;  has  two  children.     Clarissa,  b.  1832;  m.  C.  Thos.  Parker. 


389 

\t£.  George,  son  of  George  (6),  b.  May  12,  1789.  He  succeedod  to  his 
father's  old  homestead  in  Ashfield,  where  nearly  all  his  children  were  born 
and  reared.  With  his  family,  in  Oct.,  1833,  he  removed  to  i'helps,  N.  Y., 
where  he  died,  Sept.  9,  18i2,  aged  53  years.  In  the  years  1836-37  he  spent 
about  a  year  on  Grand  River,  Mich.,  with  two  of  his  sons  and  Col.  Hathaway, 
on  a  contract  which  they  took  for  getting  lumber  down  the  river  to  Grand 
Haven.  Mr.  Kanney  much  resembled  his  father  in  personal  appearance — was 
short  in  stature,  thick-set,  with  a  compact,  vigorous  frame.  Of  a  mild  and 
retiring  disposition,  he  was  kind,  unobtrusive  and  exemplary  in  his  conduct, 
and  highly  respected.  Near  the  close  of  life  he  became  a  professor  of  the 
religion  of  Christ,  and  died  in  that  faith.  He  m.,  Nov.  11,  1811,  Achsah, 
dau.  of  Paul  Sears,  of  Ashfield.  She  d.  Aug.  7,  1869,  aged  80;  a  woman  of 
unusual  worth.  She  united  with  the  Congregational  Church  at  Ashfield, 
in  1830. 

Children:  Alonzo  Franklin,  b.  Sept.  13,  1812.  George  Lewis,  b.  Mar. 
ID,  1815;  d.  Apr.,  1881  at  Hillsdale,  Mich.;  m.  Sarah  McConnell;  had  no 
children.  Henry  Sears,  born  Mar.  5,  1817(15).  Lucius,  born  Apr.  12,  1819; 
lives  at  Allen,  Mich;  farmer;  town  treasurer;  m.  Clarissa  A.  Wilcox.  Their 
daughter,  Caroline  E..  d.  Feb.  2,  1858,  aged  8  years.  PriscUla  M.,b.  Jan.  19, 
1822;  lives  at  Allen,  Mich.;  m.  Handolph  Densmore.  He  died  in  Michigan. 
Had  a  dau.  that  died  young.  Harrison  J.,  b.  Mar.  4,  1824;  merchant;  lives 
at  Clearwater,  Minn.;  m.  Helen  McConnell;  has  three  children,  that  are  mar- 
ried. Lyman  A.,  b.  Aug.  1,  1828;  d.  Mar.  7,  1854,  at  \''an  Buren,  Ark.;  was 
a  merchant's  clerk;  unmarried.  Lemuel  S.,  born  Jan.  7.  1831;  lives  at  Hills- 
dale, Mich;  alderman;  supervisor,  former  member  of  Legislature  of  Michigan; 
m..  May  24,  1882,  Maggie,  dau.  of  Samuel  Gilmore;  has  one  son,  Samuel 
Owen.  Anson  B.,  b.  May  31,  18.33;  d.  Mar.  24,  1886,  near  Hillsdale,  Mich.; 
farmer;  m.  Caroline  Baggerly;  had  one  son,  Everett  B. 

13.  Capt.  Roswell  Ranney,  son  of  Thomas  (7),  born  Nov.  22,  1782,  at 
Chatham,  Conn. ;  became  prominent  in  public  affairs;  Captain  of  Militia  twice ; 
twice  Representative  in  Massachusetts  Legislature;  held  various  town  offices 
in  Ashfield.  With  special  qualifications  as  a  presiding  officer,  he  was  often 
called  to  serve  as  moderator  in  town  meetings.  He  was  an  enterprising  and 
honorable  business  man ;  was  a  farmer  and  speculator,  dealing  largely  in  pep- 
permint and  other  essential  oils.  His  sagacity  and  integrity  were  crowned 
with  such  a  degree  of  success  that  he  accumulated  and  left  a  large  estate.  He 
succeeded  his  father  in  possession  of  the  farm  in  Ashfield,  and  in  Sept.  1839, 
removed  to  Phelps,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  Sept.  7,  1848,  aged  66.  On  his  farm 
in  Phelps  he  had  built  a  large  house  and  barn,  both  of  cobble  stone.  He  m. 
Feb.  17,  1803,  Irvinda,  daughter  of  Dea.  John  Bement,  of  Ashfield.  She  died 
Apr.  18,  1844. 

Children:  Horace,  b.  May  22,  1803.  He  removed,  about  1832,  to  Phelps, 
N.  Y.,  and  thence  to  Penfield,  where  he  died.  He  m.  Sept.  24,  1834,  Waity 
Phillips.  Had  three  children.  Willis,  b.  Sept.  24,  1805;  became  a  lawyer; 
has  been  for  many  years  a  merchant,  at  Louisville,  Ky.  He  m.  Nov.  8,  1837, 
Sophia  A.  Leight;  has  four  children.  Clarissa,  b.  Oct.  3,  1807;  d.  Mar.  15, 
1849;  m.  Sept.  4,  1834,  Wait  Bement,  Esq.;  had  one  daughter.  Madison,  b. 
^ct.  9,  1809.  He  was  loilg  connected  with  railroad  business  at  Framingham, 
Mass.,  where  he  died.     He  m.  Sept.  9,  1840,  Adeline  M.  Cary.     Mary,  b.  Oct. 


39° 

9,  1814.  She  m.  Apr.  23,  1839,  Doctor  Milo  Wilson.  She  had  three 
children.  Dr.  Milo  Wilaon  was  a  brother  of  Louisa,  who  m.  Lewis  Ellis 
(see  page  177).  Dr.  W.  practiced  medicine  in  Ashtield  several  years.  He 
lived  on  the  Plain,  and  about  1 850  removed  to  Shelbume  Falli>,  where  he  con- 
tinued in  practice  until  his  death,  about  1870.  He  left  two  children — a  son 
and  daughter.  The  son,  Charles,  is  a  physician,  practicing  in  Kansas.  His 
mother  lives  with  him.  Amanda,  b.  Mar.  23,  1817;  m.  Oct.  7,  1841,  Jacob 
Jenkins.  She  d.  June  14,  1847.  Hiram,  b.  Aug.  7,  1819;  m.  Jan.  7.  1841, 
Sarah,  dau.  of  Lucius  Smith.  He  lives  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  has  three  chil- 
dren. Thomas,  b.  Aug.  7,  1825;  was  for  many  years  chief  clerk  in  the  office 
of  collector  of  United  States  revenue,  at  Boise  City,  Idaho  Territory,  where  he 
d.,  about  1881.     He  m.,  Sept.  6,  1848,  Cordelia  Butler;  had  a  daughter. 

14.  William  Ranney,  son  of  Thomas  (7),  b.  June  30,  1786.  He  removed 
from  Ashtield  in  1823,  to  Aurelius,  N.  Y  ;  from  thence,  in  1835,  to  Elbridge, 
N.  Y. ,  where  he  died  Sept.  9,  1857;  a  farmer.  He  is  represented  as  haNnng 
been  a  leading  man,  of  good  judgment,  and  large  influence  in  the  communities 
where  he  resided,  and  was  honored  with  their  confidence.  He  m.,  Dec.  1807, 
Betsey,  a  dau.?hter  of  .lohn  Alden.     She  d.  Vay  9,  1870,  aged  81. 

The  Aldens  trace  their  lineage  directly  back  to  John  Alden,  who  landed 
from  the  Mayflower,  on  Plymouth  Rock,  1620 — the  same  John  who  asked 
Miss  Priscilla  Mullens  if  she  would  have  Capt.  Miles  Standish,  and  she  hinted 
to  him  to  ask  for  himself,  and  he  knew  enough  to  take  the  hiut.  The  Aldens 
have  been  noted  for  their  great  longevity  and  strong  Puritanic  religious  char- 
acter, many  of  them  having  been  clergymen. 

Children:  Betsey,  m.  Fernando  C.  Annable.  They  removed  to  Almena, 
Mich.,  and  died  there  (see  page  96).  John,  b.  1811;  settled  at  Almena;  un- 
married. Luke,  b.  Nov.  8,  1815;  is  a  resident  of  Elbridge,  Onondaga  Co.,  N. 
Y. ;  a  farmer  and  surveyor;  formerly  a  teacher;  member  of  State  Assembly. 
A  man  of  sterling  qualities;  he  has  frequently  been  called  by  his  fellow-citizens 
to  positions  of    honor  and  trust.     He  m..  May,  1844,  Rebecca,  daughter  of 

Dea.  Cyrus    Lyon;  they  have  children.     Martha,    .     Mary,    m.    Edwin 

Whitney. 

When  in  the  legislature  of  New  York,  Hon.  Luke  Ranney's  speeches  gave 
him  a  State  reputation  as  one  of  the  best  debaters  in  the  assembly.  Mr.  Ran- 
ney says  that  the  greatest  good  he  ever  accomplished  for  his  country  was  in 
the  organization  of  the  opposition  to  the  increase  of  the  way  fare  on  the  New 
York  Central  Railroad,  and  continuing  the  contest  until  its  linal  defeat  by  the 
veto  of  Gov.  Fenton.  By  this  defeat  the  way  passengers  are  saved  from  paying 
into  the  treasury  of  that  mammoth  corporation  from  five  hundred  thousand  to 
one  million  dollars  annually. 

He  has  been  extensively  employed  as  a  surveyor,  and  often  on  disputed 
lines  has  harmonized  parties  and  saved  litigation.  He  has  had  many  estates 
to  settle,  as  executor,  administrator  and  assignee,  in  Onondaga  and  Cayuga 
coonties,  and  in  Michigan.  He  is  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Munro 
Collegiate  Institute,  an  institute  of  learning  hardly  second  to  any  in  the 
connty. 

15.  Henry  Sears  Ranney,  third  son  of  George  (12),  was  bom  in  Ashtield 
March  5,  1817.     In  early  life  he  was  a  merchant  on  the  Plain,  and  in  Boston"^ 
for  four  years.     Of  all  the  Ranneys,  who  were  so  numerous  in  Ashfleld  from 


39 » 

50  to  100  years  ago,  he  is  one  of  the  few  now  remaining  there.  He  has  been 
town  clerk  for  most  of  the  time  since  1839,  and  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace 
since  1851.  He  has  been  also  twice  a  member  of  the  State  legislature,  and 
one  of  the  most  useful  as  well  as  noted  ihen  in  the  history  of  ^Vahfield.  He  is 
thoroughly  informed  regarding  every  item  of  value  in  the  history  of  the  town, 
from  the  earliest  times  to  the  present,  and  has  aided  the  writer  greatly  in 
compiling  this  work.  For  the  great  amount  of  time  and  labor  he  has  thus 
expended  he  is  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  every  reader  of  this  book.  Mr.  Ran- 
ney  married,  June  20,  1844,  Maria  Jane,  daughter  of  Anson  Goodwin,  of 
AshSeld.  She  died  Jan.  14,  1855,  aged  33  years.  He  married  (second)  June 
26,  1856,  Julia  A.,  daughter  of  Francis  Bassett,  Esq.,  of  Ashfield.  They' 
reside  on  the  Plain,  at  24. 

Of  Mr.  Ranney's  four  children  none  are  now  living.  Ralph  Henry  was 
bom  in  Ashfield,  March  16,  1845;  he  died  in  Boston,  Oct.  30,  1876.  He  m., 
1868,  Rosa  Bassett.  His  children:  Clara  M.  was  born  Jan.  8,  1869;  Raymond 
R,  born  July  29,  1871. 

Ella  L.,  born  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  Sept.  24.  1847;  she  died  in  Ashfield, 
Dec.  21,  1874.  She  m  ,  Jan.  21,  1869,  Albert  W.  Packard.  Her  childre'b: 
Austin  G.  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Jan,  24,  1870;  Ella  M.  born  Dec.  15, 
1874. 

Clara  Maria,  born  Aug.  2,  1851;  died  Sept.  28,  1855. 
George  G..  born  May  22,  1853;  died  Sept.  8,  1853. 

1(J.  Daniel  Ranney,  son  of  Francis  (8),  was  born  in  Springfield,  Mass., 
about  1776.  He  lived  in  Ashfield  until  1821,  when  he  went  to  LeRoy,  Genesee 
Co.,  N.  Y.  He  had  four  daughters  and  thcee  sons:  Charlotte,  who  m.  Lorrin 
Havens,  of  LeRoy;  she  died  leaving  several  children,  one  of  whom  is  Mrs.  Susan 
Dodge,  of  Downer's  Grove,  HI.  Hezekiah  Bartlett  Ranney,  son  of  Daniel,  b. 
1808,  d.  1832.  Julia,  dau.  of  Daniel,  m.,  about  1836,  Asiel  Crittenden,  of 
Pavilion,  N.  Y. ;  they  both  died  about  five  years  later,  leaving  one  son,  Edward, 
who  has  since  lived  with  his  aunt,  at  Downer's  Grove.  Ozias  Ranney,  son  of 
Daniel,  m.  Abbie  Northrup.  He  died  in  LeRoy  in  1845,  aged  28,  leaving  one 
daughter,  Marian.  Laura  Ann,  m.  Alpheus  Wilsey,  and  they  now  live  at  Dell 
Rapids,  Dakota.     They  have  one  child  married  and  living  near  them. 

Mr.  Daniel  Ranney  died  in  1857,  in  Dupage  Co.,  111.,  being  at  the  time 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Havens.  He  was  aged  86  and  very  smart  for  his  years. 
Joel  Ranney,  son  of  Daniel  (16),  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1807,  d.  in 
1851.  He  m.  Elizabeth  Peck  Champlain  in  1830.  She  was  a  dau.  of  Isaac 
and  Sarah  (Peck)  Champlain,  who  came  to  West  Bloomfield,  Ont.  Co..  N.  Y"., 
in  1803.  Isaac  died  in  1815,  at  33  years  of  age,  from  injuries  received  in  the 
war  of  1812.  He  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Samuel  Champlain,  a  celebrated 
French  naval  officer  who,  in  1609,  discovered  Lake  Champlain,  and  founded 
Quebec  in  1608,  and  to  whose  courage  and  enterprise  France  owed  much  for 
the  establishment  of  her  colony  of  Canada.  Mr.s.  Elizabeth  P.  Ranney 
was  bom  in  1811.  They  had  four  children:  Hezekiah  B. ,  b.  1833,  d.  at  the 
age  of  49.  He  was  a  physician,  m.  Martha  Barnett.  Elizabeth  Jane,  b.  1835,  m. 
John  Morris,  ex  warden  of  the  Michigan  prison,  at  Jackson.  Dr.  George  E., 
b.  at  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  in  1839,  m.  in  1861,  lives  in  Lansing,  Mich.,  is  a  noted 
physician  and  surgeon;  and  John  S.  Ranney,  b.  1842,  youngest  child  of  Joel, 
is  a  pine  land  and  real  estate  dealer  in  Chicago,  111.     Mrs.  Joel  Ranney  now 


392 

lives  with  her  son,  Dr.  George  K.,  in  Lansing.  Dr.  llanney  entered  the  Union 
army  in  1861  as  a  private  soldier,  and  was  soon  made  hospital  steward  of  the 
Second  Michigan  Cavalry.  In  1863  he  w<is  made  assistant  suri^eon,  and  soon 
after  brigade  surgeon  and  placed  in  charge  of  Corps  Hospital  of  Cavalry  of  the 
Division  of  the  Mississippi.  Since  Feb.,  1866,  he  has  practiced  in  Tensing.  Mich., 
and  has  acquired  a  wide  celebrity.  He  is  a  member  of  several  American  and 
European  medical  societies,  and  consulting  surgeon  for  several  railroads  in  this 
State.  Dr.  Ranney  m.  in  1869  Isabella  E.  Sparrow,  d.  of  the  late  Bartholo- 
mew Sparrow,  of  "Kellebeq,"  Ennissarthy,  Ireland.  They  have  one  son, 
.  Kalph  S.,  aged  15;  and  a  dau.  Florence,  7  years  of  age. 

Other  Ranneys  of  the  same  descent  as  the  above  are  Judge  Rnfas  P.,  of 
Cleveland,  0. ;  also  three  sisters  living  in  Howell,  Mich. ,  wives  of  Dr.  Wells, 
Philo  Gay,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  McPherson,  and  Hon.  Peyton  Kanney,  of  Kalama- 
zoo, Mich. 

HON.  EI.IJAH  PAIKE. 

•  Conspicuous  among  the  prominent  men  of  the  town  was  Elijah  Paine, 
Esq.,  a  lawyer,  who  settled  in  this  village  near  the  close  of  the  last  century, 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days  here.  He  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Elijah  Paine, 
of  Hattield  and  Williamsburg;  was  bom  in  Hatlield,  Nov,  29,  1760.  graduated 
at  Yale  in  1790,  and  died  Aug.  3.  1846,  aged  85.  He  m.,  July  1,  1795,  Patty 
Pomeroy,  of  Northfield.  She  d.  Jan.  28,  1842,  aged  69.  Esquire  Paine  be- 
came a  man  of  much  usefulness  and  influence  in  the  community;  of  sterling 
character,  with  dignified  bearing,  and  manners  of  a  gentleman  of  the  old 
school;  a  ruffle  on  his  bosom  was  always  a  part  of  his  attire.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  each  branch  of  the  legislature;  and,  on  the  division  of  the  old 
county,  in  1811,  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Sessions,  and 
held  the  office  some  fifteen  years,  until  it  was  abolished  by  law.  For  his 
dwelling  he  built,  in  1794,  the  house  where  Mrs.  Pease  now  resides,  and 
which,  with  land  adjoining,  is  yet  owned  by  his  granchildren.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  three  of  his  sons — 
Elijah,  William  P.  and  John  C. — became  clergymen. 

His  children  were:  Louisa,  born  Nov.  21,  1795;  Elijah,  Dec.  9,  1797; 
Henry,  Mar.  20,  1799;  William  P.,  Aug.  1,  1802;  Mary,  June  15,  1804;  John 
C,  Jan.  29,  1806;  Lucius  H.,  Jan.  7,  1839;  Martha  was  baptised  Oct.,  1811, 
and  Frederick  baptised  Nov.,  1815. 


TEE  TAYLORS,  S£AB8,  PARKKB4,  HALLS  AND  UOWKS. 

Dea.  Jonathan  Taylor,  mentioned  in  several  places  in  these  pages,  was 
one  of  the  three  brothers  settled  near  each  other  in  the  northerly  part  of  Cape 
street.  Jonathan  settled  about  half  a  mile  south  of  where  Harrington  Kelley 
now  lives,  and  built  a  sawmill  near  there.  He  was  in  town  as  earlj^  as  1769, 
coming  here,  with  his  wife,  from  Hardwick,  although  originally  from  Yar- 
mouth. He  and  his  wife,  Thankful,  joined  the  Congregational  Church,  but, 
having  some  trouble  with  Mr.  Sherwin,  the  minister,  he  left  and  joined  Elder 
Smith's  church,  at  Baptist  Corner,  and  he  and  his  descendants  were  ever  after 
strong  supporters  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  Quite  a  number  of  hid  children 
went  West.     His  son  Jonathan  remained  on  the  old  place  for  many  years,  and 


393 

was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Epaphroditus  Williams  and  Miss  Sally  Taylor,  later, 
wife  of  Elder  Pease. 

Issac  and  Jasher  Taylor  came  to  town  later,  from  Yarmouth;  probably 
in  1771.  Isaac  settled  on  the  farm  where  his  great  grandson,  Henry,  now 
lives.  He  had  four  sons,  of  whom  Ezekiel  and  Stephen  staid  in  Ashfield,  on 
the  old  farm.  Ezekiel  was  the  grandfather  of  Daniel  and  Henry,  now  living 
in  town,  and  Stephen  was  the  father  of  Ansel,  who  went  to  Buckland  and  left 
numerous  descendants.  Isaiah,  the  third  son,  settled  in  the  northwest  part 
of  the  town  and  was  the  grandfather  of  Alvah  Taylor,  of  Buckland.  Jeremiah 
moved  to  Hawley,  and  from  his  family  have  come  a  large  number  of  ministers. 
Jasher,  the  third  original  Taylor  settler,  moved  to  Buckland.  Geo.  Taylor,  of 
Buckland,  also  Wells  and  Darius,  of  this  town,  are  his  descendants. 

Rowland,  Jonathan,  Paul  and  Enos  Sears  were  also  early  settlers  in  Cape 
street,  Eowland  being  in  town  as  early  as  1772  He  and  Paul,  although  only 
distantly  related,  bought  and  worked  a  tract  of  land  together.  They  built 
two  frame  houses  and  then  cast  lots  for  the  occupancy.  Rowland  drew  for  the 
north  house,  where  Mr.  Cowan  now  lives,  and  Paul  about  thirty  rods  south, 
the  house  afterwards  occupied  by  the  Keliey  family.  Rowland,  when  asked 
how  they  could  live  together  so  peaceably,  said  that  Paul  wouldn't  quarrel, 
anyway.  They  both  died  in  town.  Rowland  had  eight  children;  of  the  sons, 
only  Ahira  staid  in  town.  He  lived  and  died  on  the  old  place.  Paul  had  11 
children;  and  of  the  daughters  Clarissa  married  Sanford  Boice,  Achsah  m. 
George  Ranney  and  was  the  mother  of  H.  S.  Ranney,  Esq.,  Betsey  m.  Ansel 
Taylor,  and  Priscilla  m.  Mr.  Pratt,  of  Buckland.  Eoos  was  a  brother  of  Paul, 
and  lived  where  his  grandson,  Nathan,  lived  for  many  years. 

Jonathan  Sears  settled  on  the  farm  where  Benjamin  Sears  now  lives,  and 
was  his  great  grandfather.  He  had  Jonathan,  Jr.,  who  settled  on  the  old 
place;  Freeman,  a  minister,  located  in  the  east  part  of  the  State,  and 
Asarelah,  who  settled  on  the  south  part  of  the  old  farm.  Other  settlers,  about 
the  time  of  the  Revolution,  were  Elisha  Parker,  grandfather  of  Marcus,  and  a 
Revolutionary  soldier;  Levi  and  Eli  Eldredge,  Abner  Keliey,  Asa  Selden  and 
Samuel  Hall. 

All  the  settlers  through  that  street  came  from  Yarmouth,  on  the  Cape; 
hence,  "Cape  street."  Elisha  Parker  settled  on  the  hill,  about  50  rods  south 
of  the  schoolhouse;  Levi  Eldredge,  south  of  Eqos  Sears,  building  the  house 
now  standing  where  Levi's  son  Samuel  lived;  Abner  Keliey  settled  just  oppo- 
site him,  and  Asa  Selden  50 rods  farther  south;  Samuel  Hall  settled  about  100 
rods  south  of  the  Taylor  Corners,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  Samuel  \V.  Hall, 
Atherton,  of  Savoy,  and  Daniel  and  Joshua.  Nearly  all  of  these  settlers  had 
large  families,  seventy- five  scholars  attending  the  school  in  that  district  in  the 
winter.  "Cape  .Street"  is  in  the  south  part  of  the  town.  It  was  so  named 
because  all  the  settlers  who  came  to  that  locality  and  settled,  near  the  close 
of  the  last  century,  were  emigrants  from  Cape  Cod.  It  is  simply  a  school  dis- 
trict, nearly  all  the  inhabitants  of  which  are  on  one  road  a  mile  and  a  half  in 
length. 

Mr.  Marcus  Parker  says  that  the  settlers  of  Cape  street  came  up  one  year 
and  cleared  their  land  and  built  their  log  houses,  and  the  next  year  brought 
up  their  families.  While  here  the  Hrst  season  they  boirded  a  portion  of  the 
time  at  Aaron  Fuller's  tavern,  where  Hiram  Warren  now  lives. 


394 

Besides  the  Samuel  Hall  who  settled  in  Cape  street,  there  were  Joseph 
and  Reuben  Hall.  Joseph  came  from  Yarmouth  in  1797,  and  bought  of  Jona- 
than Taylor  lot  No.  2,  2d  division,  being  the  farm  where  his  grandson,  A.  G. 
Hall,  now  lives.  He  married  in  Yarmouth  Lucy  Sears,  sister  of  Jonathan, 
who  married  Joseph's  sister.  Of  Joseph's  children,  Joseph,  George  and  Seth 
lived  and  died  in  Ashfield.  The  others  emigrated  to  the  State  of  New  York. 
Joseph  Hall,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  son  of  Seth,  has  beeu  for  twenty  five  years 
principal  of  the  Hartford  High  School. 

David  Hall,  brother  of  Samuel,  came  here  previous  to  1780,  with  his  son 
Reuben,  and  settled  about  100  rods  west  of  where  Allen  Hall  now  lives. 
Reuben  was  an  officer  on  the  ship  from  which  the  tea  was  thrown  overboard 
in  Boston  Harbor.  Reuben  was  the  father  of  Thomas,  who  left  a  large  pos- 
terity in  this  town,  and  great  grandfather  of  Dr.  G.  Stanley  Hall,  professor  in 
the  Johns  Hopkin  University,  of  Baltimore,  and  a  noted  writer  on  educa- 
tional topics. 

Of  the  Howes  families  there  were  seven  different  men  by  that  name  who 
settled  and  died  in  town.  Kimbal  and  Zachariah  came  to  town  in  1775  or  1776, 
and  settled  on  land  now  occupied  by  Ephraim  Williams,  Kimbal  living  where 
Ephraim  now  lives,  and  Zachariah  100  rods  farther  south.  Afterwards  Kimbal 
moved  to  New  Boston,  where  he  died.  He  was  the  father  of  Capt.  Kimbal 
and  Barnabas,  and  grandfather  of  Barnabas,  late  aathor  of  the  two  books  of 
Ashfield  history  before  alluded  to. 

Zachariah  moved  to  Briar  Hill,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  grandson, 
Otis  Howes.  He  was  also  the  father  of  Nathan,  and  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Moses  Cook. 

Samuel  came  to  town  about  the  same  time  and  settled  on  the  farm  north 
of  Great  Pond,  now  occupied  by  his  great  grandson,  Charles  Richmond.  His 
son  Heman  married  Eliakem  Lilly's  sister,  and  the  same  year  Eliakem  mar- 
ried Heman's  sister.  Heman  lived  and  died  on  the  old  place,  raising  a  large 
family,  most  of  which  settled  in  Ashfield  and  vicinity. 

Ezekiel  and  Mark,  sons  of  "Sailor  Thomas,"  settled  a  few  years  later  in 
the  northwest  part  of  the  town.  They  both  raised  large  families.  David  S., 
son  of  Ezekiel,  now  lives  on  the  farm  his  father  occupied,  and  Henry  A., 
grandson  of  Mark,  novr. tills  the  farm  his  grandfather  cleared  up. 

Dea.  Anthony  Howes  and  Joshua,  his  brother,  distant  relatives  of  the 
other  Howes,  settled  on  the  hill,  about  100  rods  south  of  Mrs.  John  Field's 
new  house  (60  on  map),  on  the  old  road  to  South  Ashtield.  They  came  previ- 
ous to  1788.  Anthony  was  the  father  of  the  late  Frederick  Howes,  Esq.,  of 
Salem  (see  page  2J)4),  also  of  David,  who  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Wait  Bement. 
Joshua  had  one  son,  Joshua,  who  married  a  sister  of  Seth  Hall  and  emigrated 
to  the  Mohawk  Valley.  None  of  the  descendants  of  Anthony  or  Joshua  are 
now  in  town.  All  these  families  were  descendants  of  Thomas  Howes,  of  Yar- 
mouth, who,  with  John  Crowell,  bought  of  the  Indians,  in  1636,  what  now 
comprises  the  towns  of  Dennis  and  Yarmouth. 

One  of  the  best  known  and  highly  respected  men  of  Ashfield  at  the  present 
time  is  Frederick  (i.  Howes,  Esq.  He  is  a  farmer  and  resides  at  26  (see  map, 
page  328),  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  State  Horticultural  Society,  and  a 
surveyor  by  profession.  An  old  resident  of  Ashfield  says  of  him:  "  I  wish 
you  should  not  fail  to  know  that  he  has  for  many  years  been  a  leading  and 


395 

influential  citizen  here;  ^as  had  moat  of  the  town  offices;  was  for  a  long  time 
school  teacher;  h^s  done  valuable  and  long  continued  service  on  school  com- 
mittees; was  member  of  State  legislature,  and  is  in  service  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace.''  Mr.  Howes  has  kindly  given  much  time  and  labor  to  preparing 
matter  for  this  part  of  the  book. 


THE  M^IIXIAMSES. 


The  following  is  an  extract  from  an  address  delivered  by  Rev.  Francis 
Williams,  of  Chaplin,  Conn.,  at  the  Williams  family  gathering,  in  Ashfield, 
Sept  4,  1878: 

Our  grandfather,  Ephraim  Williams,  Esq. ,  was  descended  on  the  maternal 
side  from  Capt.  Hunt,  who  had  command  of  a  company  of  men  who  did  such 
'  good  service  in  the  early  conflicts  of  the  colony,  that  Ashtield,  first  called 
Huntstown,  was  granted  to  that  company.  His  mother  was  a  Hunt,  and  it 
was  from  his  connection  with  this  grant  that  he  came  to  settle  in  Huntstown. 
He  was  a  skillful  surveyor,  and  his  services  were  called  in  constant  requisition 
among  the  first  settlers  of  the  town.  He  bought  out  many  of  the  soldiers' 
claims  and  owned  more  than  1,500  acres,  most  of  which  he  afterwards  gave  to 
his  children.  He  was  for  a  time  reckoned  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  west  of 
the  Connecticut  river.  He  came  to  Ashfield  in  1771,  a  journey  of  120  miles, 
on  foot,  with  a  hired  man,  carrying  on  their  backs  what  tools  would  be  neces- 
sary to  build  a  sawmill,  and  a  few  necessary  pieces  of  sawed  lumber.  They 
fixed  upon  a  place  for  the  mill  where  the  mill  of  Darius  Williams  now  stands. 
The  first  nigirt  he  slept  tWffWeen  two  hemlock  barks,  on  his  great  coat,  keeping 
up  his  camp-fires  as  a  protection  against  wild  animals;  and  during  the  night 
the  howling  wolves  appeared  near  enough  for  him  to  see  their  eyes  glisten 
from  the  light  of  his  fire.  By  the  second  night  they  had  a  cabin  built,  where 
they  could  sleep  with  a  sense  of  safety.  The  millwright,  who  came  from 
Easton  to  do  the  work,  finished  the  job,  and  his  bill  is  now  in  the  hands  of  one 
of  your  number  present  to-day,  and  it  was  $13.33,  when  computed  in  our  cur- 
rency. Wages  were  really  low  then,  and  yet  strikes  for  higher  wages  were 
not  even  dreamed  of.  The  boards  for  covering  the  mill  were  sawed  in  it  as 
soon  as  they  could  put  it  in  running  order. 

When  he  could  establish  a  hotne,  like  a  good  domestic  man,  as  he  was,  he 
went  to  Mendon  and  took  his  bride  elect,  Miss  Mercy  Daniels,  who  was  bom 
Aug.  7,  1757.  They  were  married  Sept.  14,  1775,  and  set  out  immediately  for 
their  wilderness  home.  Both  were  of  good  families,  but  their  wedding  trip 
diflTered  essentially  from  that  of  persons  in  like  position  in  modern  times.  An 
ox  wagon  was  constructed,  the  wheels  from  two  carts  of  the  same  size  were 
put  upon  it,  two  yoke  of  good  stout  oxen  were  yoked  to  it,  some  necessary 
household  furniture  loaded  on,  a  seat  prepared  for  the  bride,  and  they  left  the 
old  homestead,  with  many  good  wishes  for  their  success  and  happiness  in  life. 
The  roads  were^rough,  but  the  young  bridegroom,  cartwhip  in  hand,  started 
his  gentle  team  with  the  precious  freight,  all  carefully  cared  for  by  joyous, 
youthful  love.  He  walked  by  the  side  of  his  team  where  the  roads  were  rough, 
and  when  they  came  to  the  smooth  plains  she  glac^y  gave  him  a  seat  by  her 
side,  and  they  talked  of  the  new  home,  anticipated  with  so  much  interest. 
When  hunger  told  its  story — as  it  will,  even  to  loving  couples — the  oxen  were 


396 

fed,  the  bride  set  out  the  frugal  lunch  from  the  boxes  and  baskets,  the  bless- 
ing was  asked,  and  a  feast,  better  than  a  stalled  ox  without  love,  was  enjoyed. 

When  they  come  within  a  little  more  than  three  miles  of  their  new  home, 
nothing  but  a  bridle  path  lies  before  them;  they  can  go  no  further.  At  a 
house  on  or  near  the  place  of  the  late  Mr.  Fuller,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road  from  the  old  Williams  home,  where  grandfather  dictl,  and  where  Mr. 
Orville  Hall  now  resides,  she  remained  for  about  a  week,  until  her  young  hus- 
band, and  kind  friends  from  near  and  far,  could  cut  through  a  road  for  an  ox 
team  to  pass.  Then  the  young  bride,  amid  the  congratulations  of  most  persons 
in  the  vicinity,  was  conveyed  to  her  new  home,  of  which  she  became  the  light 
and  joy. 

When  winter  came  no  com  could  be  ground  nearer  than  Williamsburg, 
southeast  nine  miles.  Snow  fell  to  the  depth  of  four  feet  on  the  level.  He 
pounded  corn  in  his  5-pail  iron  kettle,  with  his  mill-bar,  and  was  happy  in 
the  thought  that  he  was  so  conveniently  situated,  with  so  good  implements  for 
obtaining  his  meal.  fJefore  he  went  back  for  his  bride  he  went  to  what  is  now 
New  Boston,  bought  half  a  steer,  bound  it  upon  his  saddle  before  him  and 
started  around  through  the  center  near  by,  as  there  was  no  bridle  path  nearer. 
Night  drew  on,  and  the  wolves  began  to  call  and  answer  each  other.  He 
knew  they  scented  meat  and  were  gathersng  the  pack  for  pursuit.  His  horse 
was  good,  and  anxious,  like  himself,  to  reach  safety  and  home.  His  plan  was 
quickly  formed — to  hasten  as  fast  as  possible,  and  if  they  overtook  him  to  cut 
the  cord,  drop  the  side  of  beef,  with  which  he  thought  they  would  be  fully 
occupied  until  he  reached  home.  But  his  good  steed  bore  him  safely  through, 
and  his  new  bride  found  the  beef  in  good  order  for  her  winter  cooking.  Others, 
however,  were  not  so  well  provided.  It  was  thought  the  road  must  be  opened 
to  the  mill  in  Williamsburg,  and  the  scattered  inhabitants  of  Ashfield  started 
with  their  teams  and  shovels  to  break  out  roads.  After  a  few  days  of  earnest 
work  they  met,  in  Goshen,  a  party  from  Williamsburg  who  were  breaking 
through  to  relieve  those  they  feared  were  suffering  form  hunger.  That  was  a 
joyful  meeting  for  the  tired  men  and  teams  from  Ashfield.  They  realized  the 
good  of  having  kind  neighbors,  if  they  were  nine  miles  from  them. 

By  hunting  and  fishing  the  early  settlers  helped  out  the  winter's 
provisions.  The  bears,  raccoons,  rabbits,  partridges,  squirrels  and  other 
game  often  made  a  well  filled  larder  and  a  cheerful  fireside.  Grandfather, 
with  his  gun  and  traps,  often  came  from  the  forest  a  successful  hunter.  The 
home  circle  was  also  enlarging,  and  a  numerous  family  cheered  the  hearts  of 
father  and  mother  with  their  joyful,  loving  greetings. 

Grandfather  had  ten  children — nine  by  his  first  wife  and  one  by  his 
second.  David,  bom  Dec.  6,  1776,  died  in  Ashfield,  in  the  house  where  we 
are  now  assembled,  at  a  good  old  age.  Daniel,  b.  Mar.  2,  1778,  was  a  most 
consistent  Christian,  deacon  in  the  Congregational  church,  and  lived  and  died 
on  the  old  homestead  of  his  father,  where  his  son  Darius  now  lives.  The  old 
place  where  grandfather  commenced  domestic  life  has  always  remained  in  the 
family,  and  the  sawmill  has  always  been  a  place  of  busy  activity  in  the  lumber 
business  since  this  town  was  a  wilderness.  Rebecca  M^tor,  b.  Nov.  28,  1779, 
d.  in  Hawleyin  1807;  Abigail  Warren,  b.  May  7,  1781;  d.  in  Conway;  Eph- 
raim,  b.  June  22,  1783;  d.  while  a  member  of  Williams  College  preparing  for 
the  ministry,  and  his  room-mate,  Gordon  Hall,  afterwards  a  missionary,  pro- 


397 

nounced  his  college  eulogy.  Apollos,  b.  May  24,  1785,  died  in  Ashfield;  Ezra, 
b.  May  21,  1787,  d.  in  Ashfield;  Israel  (my  father),  b.  Sept.  4,  1789,  d.  in 
Geneva,  Wis.,  Oct.  14,  1846,  at  the  age  of  57;  Moses,  b.  April  6,  1793,  d.  at 
the  age  of  14;  Abel,  b.  Sept.  26,  1794,  son  of  grandfather's  second  wife,  resided 
with  his  father  upon  the  new  homestead  until  after  grandfather's  death,  and 
some  years  afterwards  sold  his  place  and  removed  to  Windsor,  where  he  died 
after  a  few  years'  residence. 

[Feb.  14,  1763,  Joseph  Belcher  of  Stoughton,  conveyed  to  Daniel  Williama, 
Esq,,  of  Easton  (Ephraim's  father),  "so  much  of  that  share  of  the  common  and 
undivided  lands  in  Huntstown,  that  belonged  to  my  honored  father,  Joseph 
Belcher,  as  to  make  up  and  entitle  him  to  250  acres;"  consideration,  £30. 
Squire  Williams  bought  the  place  now  occupied  by  Orville  Hall  in  1793.] 

Apollos  WUliams,  who  married  Hannah  Ellis,  (see  page  101),  was  a 
grandson  of  Daniel  Williams,  of  Easton.  Daniel  married  a  Hunt,  probably 
a  daughter  of  Ebenezer,  the  head  petitioner  for  the  grant.  Daniel  owned  lands 
in  different  parts  of  the  town.  Apollos  was  a  nephew  of  Ephraim  Williams^ 
Esq. ,  and  lived  on  or  near  the  James  Ranney  place,  ahout  150  rods  north  of  48. 


TH£  SHBFAKUS. 


Dea.  Isaac  Shepard  was  in  Huntstown  as  early  as  1763,  and  was  then  31 
years  of  age.  He  married  Jemima,  the  fifth  child  of  Chileab  Smith,  Sr.  It  is 
not  known  that  he  lived  at  any  other  place  than  58,  on  the  farm  now  occupied 
by  Francis  R.  Phillips,  where  he  is  supposed  to  have  settled,  and  upon  which 
he  died.  In  1770,  by  the  Springfield  records,  he  bought  of  John  Blackmar  lot 
No.  22,  which  was  the  lot  adjoining  his  on  the  west.  Not  long  after, 
Isaac's  brother,  Samuel,  settled  on  this  lot.  The  house  upon  the  lot  was 
already  built  when  Samuel  settled  there,  and  is  now  occupied  by  Chapin 
Elmer,  a  great  great  grandson  of  Samuel  Elmer,  1st,  and  Nathan  Chapin. 
The  house  must  be  120  years  old,  and  was  probably  built  by  John  Blackmer. 

Dea.  Isaac  had  Isaac,  Jr.,  who  married  Jerusha  Phillips  and  moved  to 
Stockton;  Stillman,  who  died  on  the  old  place;  Jemima,  who  married 
Aaron  Lyon,  Jr..  and  was  the  mother  of  Mary  Lyon;  Almena,  who  married 
Deacon  Harris  Wight,  of  Buckland,  and  Lura,  who  married  Deacon  William 
Putnam,  of  Buckland,  Isaac  was  chosen  deacon  in  Chileab  Smith's  church, 
just  after  the  division  in  1788,  and  continued  in  the  office  until  his  death.  He 
was  a  man  highly  esteemed  in  the  town  and  served  on  the  Board  of  Selectmen 
and  in  other  offices.  He  was  buried  in  the  Baptist  Corner  burial  ground,  and 
on  his  headstone  is  inscribed: 

"  In  memory  of  D«acon  Isaac  Shepard,  who  departed  this  life  May  13,  1802,  aged  69 
years. 

A  husband  dear,  a  father  kind, 

A  pious  heart,  a  patient  mind ; 

He's  left  all  things  below  in  peace, 

And  gone,  we  trust,  where  sorrows  cease. 

His  body  rests  beneath  this  bed 

Till  Gabriel's  trump  shall  raise  the  dead." 

Samuel,  with  his  five  children,  went  to  Stockton.  Pamelia,  his  eldest 
daughter,  married  Quartus  Smith,  grandson  of  Elder  Ebenezer.     Mr.  Smith  and 


398 

his  wife  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  a  few  years  since,  and  both  died  soon 
after.  Not  many  years  before  their  death  they  visited  Ashtield,  and  were 
greatly  interested  in  looking  over  the  places  familiar  to  them  in  their  youthful 
days.  They  were  much  affected  when  they  bade  a  final  good  bye  to  the  old 
birth  places,  and  looked  upon  them,  as  they  said,  for  the  last  time.  (See 
page  98.)  

THE  SBaTHS. 

Chileab  Smith.  Sr.,  moved  with  his  family  to  Huntstown,  from  Hadley, 
in  1750.  It  is  probable  that  he  was  there  before  that  time,  and  held  some 
interest,  as  he  was  chosen,  at  a  meeting  in  Hadley  in  1742,  a  committee,  with 
Richard  Ellis  and  Nathaniel  Kellogg,  to  lay  out  lots.  The  next  year  he  was 
chosen  on  a  committee  to  "provide  and  agree  with  a  minister  to  preach  to  such 
as  Inhabit  at  Huntstown."  Between  this  time  and  1750  he  was  on  a  commit- 
tee to  build  the  corn  mill,  and  for  other  purposes.  He  settled  on  lot  27,  and 
built  his  house  at  the  southerly  end  of  the  lot,  about  a  dozen  rods  southeast 
of  the  house  occupied  by  his  great  grandson,  the  late  Ziba  Smith. 

A  history  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  this  part  of  the  town  is  a  history  of 
the  Smith  family  at  this  period,  and  their  peculiar  traits  of  character  can  be 
shown  no  better  than  by  giving  extracts  from  the  early  records  of  this  church, 
now  in  the  hands  of  private  parties. 

"Record  of  thk  Planting,  Gathering  and  Proceedings  or  the 
Baptist  Church  of  Christ  in  Ashfield: 

"  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1753  Chileab  Smith  moved  it  to  his  Neighbors 
to  set  up  Religious  Meetings,  which  they  did,  and  a  Blessing  followed;  and  a 
Number  (in  the  Judgment  of  Charity)  were  brought  savingly  home  to  Christ. 

"Oct.  25,  1753.  A  number  met  to  Gather  for  solemn  fasting  and  prayer, 
and  Chileab  Smith  and  Sarah  his  wife,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Mary  Smith  and 
Jemima  Smith  entered  into  a  written  covenant  together  to  keep  up  the  Wor- 
ship of  God,  and  to  walk  up  to  farther  light  as  they  should  require  it. 

"  Nov.  29,  1753.  Ebenezer  Smith,  being  desired,  began  to  improve  among 
them  by  way  of  Doctrine. " 

At  this  time  Chileab  Smith  was  45  years  old;  his  son,  Ebenezer,  just 
named,  19;  the  daughter  Mary  older  than  Ebenezer,  and  Jemima  younger. 
The  records  continue: 

"  In  the  years  1754  and  1755  they  were  Forced  to  leave  the  Town  for 
some  months,  for  fear  of  the  Indians. 

"  1756.  They  continued  in  the  Town  and  kept  up  the  Publick  Worship 
of  God  on  the  first  day  of  the  week  continually.  Refreshing  all  that  Came  to 
Hear  and  Attend  the  Worship  with  them." 

July  2,  1761,  they  were  embodied  as  a  church  of  ten  members,  of  whom 
six  were  members  of  Mr.  Smith's  family.  Chileab,  Enos  and  Eanice,  three 
more  of  his  children,  a  short  time  after  united  with  the  church.  The  records, 
after  giving  the  formation  of  the  church,  articles  of  faith  and  the  covenant, 
with  a  list  of  those  baptised  and  joining  the  covenant,  continue  thus: 

"  Feb..  1763.  The  people  of  another  Persuasion  settled  a  Minister  in  the 
Town,  and  obliged  the  Baptists  to  pay  their  proportion  of  his  Settlement  and 
Salary  till  1768.  Then  the  Church  sent  Chileab  Smith  to  the  General  Court, 
M       at  Boston,  with  a  petition  for  Help;  bat  Got  None. 


-f 


X 


399 

"In  1769  the  Church  m-ide  their  ease  known  to  the  Baptist  Association 
at  Warren  [Worcester  Co.]  and  Received  from  them  a  Letter  of  Admittance 
into  that  Body. 

"In  April,  1770,  the  other  Society  sold  400  acres  of  the  Baptist  Lands    \  . 
for  the  support  of  their  Minister  and  Meeting-House.  X 

"  Under  our  Oppression  we  sent  eight  times  to  the  General  Court  at  Boston 
for  help;  but  Got  None. 

"In  Oct.,  1771,  We  were  set  at  Liberty  by  an  Order  from  the  Kine  of 
Great  Britain,  and  our  Lands  Restored." 

Between   1771   and   1785  the  records  are  meager  and  incomplete,  eight 
pages  being  missing  during  this  time.     The  church  seems  to  have  flourished 
and  received  large  accessions  under  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith's  ministrations. 
The  church  on  the  hill  [34  on  map]  was  built  during  this  time,  about  twenty      X 
rods  north  of  Chileab  Smith's  house. 

In  the  year  1785,  with  Enos  Smith  as  clerk,  the  records  give  a  minute 
account  of  a  difficulty  which  arose  between  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith  and  his 
father  Chileab,  respecting  the  salary  of  a  minister,  the  Elder  contending  that 
he  should  have  a  fixed  salary,  and  his  father  that  ministers  should  not  be  hire- 
lings, but  should  preach  for  a  love  of  the  work,  and  be  content  with  what  the 
church  sees  fit  to  give  him.  The  church  and  Mr.  Chileab  Smith's  family  were 
divided  on  the  question.  Meeting  after  meeting  was  held,  the  advice  of  neigh  > 
boring  churches  sought  without  avail;  the  breech  grew  wider.  Finally, 
(resuming  the  record):  , 

"Oct.  25,  1786.  The  Church  Concluded  that  any  further  Labour  with 
the  Elder  amongst  ourselves  would  be  fruitless,  agreed  once  more  to  send  to 
sister  Churches  for  help." 

The  Council,  being  convened  Dec.  27,  after  hearing  both  sides,  decided: 

"  That  the  Elder  was  justifiable  in  his  conduct;  and  advised  the  church, 
after  they  had  concluded  their  acts  were  invalidated,  to  receive  the  Elder  into 
his  office  in  the  church  again,  and  to  let  him  know  that  we  have  made  him  a     N( 
Reasonable  Compensation  for  his  Labours  amongst  us,  and  then  to  Continue     ' 
the  Relation  as  Church  and  Pastor,  or  Dismiss  him  in  Peace." 

"  Jan.  24,  1787.  The  Church  considered  the  Result  of  the  Council  before 
mentioned,  and  found  that  it  wanted  the'  Testimony  of  Scripture  for  its  sup- 
port, by  which  we  desired  to  be  tried;  and  that  if  we  followed  their  Result 
and  advice  we  must  leave  God's  word  as  to  our  understandings.  Therefore, 
Voted,  That  we  cannot  agree  with  their  Result,  for  many  obvious  and  Scrip- 
tural Reasons,  which  may  be  seen  at  Large  in  the  original  Records. 

"Aug.  29,  1788.     Friday  the  Church  met  for  solemn  fasting  and  Prayer 
to  Almighty  God,  it  being  a  dark  time  with  us,  we  being  Despised  by  men. 
Elder  Smith  and  his  party  having  taken  from  us  our  meeting-house,  and  we 
turned  out  to  meet  where  we  could  find  a  place,  and  the  Association,  on  hear-  \ 
ing  his  story,  having  dropped  us  from  that  body." 

But  Chileab  Smith  did  not  despair.     He  immediately  set  about  organizing 
a  church  again,  without  the  aid  of  ministers  or  other  churches,  and,  Jan.  14,     V 
1789,  Chileab  Smith,  Sr.,  then  over  80  years  of  age,  and  Enos  Smith,  his  son,    / 
were  ordained  as  elders  and  leaders  in  the  church,  and  Isaac  Shepard  and 
Moses  Smith,  deacons.     They  united  with  Baptists  from  Buckland  and  built 
a  church  building  just  opposite  where  the  house  of  Nelson  Drake  now  stands. 


^ 


400 

It  wta  a  one -story  building,  with  a  four^sided,  pointed  roof.  There  is  good 
evidence  that  they  built  this  house  in  1789.  (It  was  a  little  over  one  mile 
north  of  the  church  then  at  34.)  The  church  seemed  to  gain  in  numbers,  and 
was  by  degrees  received  into  fellowship  with  the  other  churches.  Jan.  23, 
1798:  Voted  to  receive  back  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith,  with  such  members  as 
are  willing  to  tell  their  experience.  Eighteen  members  are  recorded  as 
received  into  full  communion.  Among  them  were  John  Alden,  Mehitable  EUis 
[widow  of  Reuben  Ellis],  Elisha  Smith,  Japhet  Chapin,  Thomas  Phillips  and 
Nancy  Alden. 

Chileab  Smith,  Sr.,  died  in  1800.  Elder  Eno3  Smith  continued  to  preach 
for  many  years.  He  lived  up  to  his  belief,  charged  nothing  for  preaching, 
but  was  supported  by  voluntary  contributions.  Erastus  Elmer,  now  90  years 
of  age,  well  remembers  the  neighbors  and  his  father  carrying  in  their  gifts. 
Elder  Eaos  lived  on  the  opposite  corner  from  Nelson  Drake's  house.  Elder 
Ebenezer  lived  nearly  opposite  where  Mr.  Temple  now  lives.  Both  were  good 
men,  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew  them.  Elder  Enos  died  in  his  old 
house,  and  Elder  Ebenezer  moved  to  Stockton,  N.  Y.,  in  1816. 

One  of  Elder  Enos'  daughters  married  Hiram  Richmond.  Several  of  her 
sons  are  now  living  in  this  vicinity.  Nathan  Elmer  married  the  other  daugh- 
ter, Julia.  Enos'  son  Calvin  moved  to  Stockton,  Emory  to  Wisconsin;  Enos, 
Jr.,  died  in  Tully,  N.  Y. 

Chileab  Smith,  2d,  died  on  the  old  place  in  1843,  aged  100  years  and  7 
months.  He  had  two  sons,  Chileab,  3d,  and  Jeduthan.  Chileab  lived  where 
Mr.  March  now  does,  and  Jeduthan  on  the  old  place.  When  Jeduthan  went 
to  Stockton,  N.  Y.,  Chileab,  3d,  moved  to  the  old  place,  where  he  died,  leav- 
ing Ziba,  Elias,  Daniel  and  Russell.  Zibs  lived  with  his  father,  and  died  on 
the  old  place;  Elias  lived  and  died  on  a  farm  one-third  of  a  mile  south;  Daniel 
was  deaf  and  dumb,  aad  Russell  went  West,  to  a  locality  unknown  by  his 
relatives  here.  Chileab,  3d,  had  six  daughters,  four  of  whom  married  in  ad- 
joining towns;  Sybil,  a  Fairbanks,  of  Adrian,  Mich. ,  and  Louisa,  a  Fisk,  of 
Brattleboro,  Vt.  Elias  left  no  issue.  Three  of  Ziba's  children  are  now  living; 
one  son,  Houghton,  now  lives  on  a  portion  of  the  original  farm,  with  three 
boys  and  one  girl,  and  these  members  of  Houghton's  family  are  the  only  de- 
scendants of  the  Chileab  Smith  family  in  Ashfield  bearing  his  name. 

The  houses  built  by  the  Chileabs  1st  and  2d  are  torn  down;  the  house 
j^^  l^  built  by  Jeduthan,  and  occupied  by  Chileab,  3d,  and  Ziba,  is  deserted.     The 

meeting-house  on  the  hill  just  above,  was  taken  down  and  moved  60  rods  east, 
°~^  I         in  1831.     Very  soon  desertions  to  the  Free  Will  Baptists  made  havoc  in  their 

already  enfeebled  ranks,  and  between  1840  and  1850  Millerism  and  the  Second 
Adventists  so  diminished  their  numbers  that  meetings  ceased  to  be  held.  The 
bailding  soon  went  to  ruins,  and  now  a  modest  schoolhouse  stands  upon  the 
spot. 

Not  only  the  building,  but  the  church  itself,  which  Chileab  Smith  and  his 
sons  planted  and  gathered  with  so  much  labor,  has  ceased  to  exist. 

The  following  document  was  written  by  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith  the  year 
before  his  death: 

\_  "Stockton,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  Ist,  1823. 

\  "  For  the  information  of  'my  children  I  write  the  following  account  of  my 

grandfather's  posterity.     My  grandfather's  name  was  Preserved  Smith;  his 


40I 

wife,  Mary  Smith,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter  and  six  sons.  He  died  when 
they  were  all  small.  His  daughter,  Mary,  and  oldest  son.  Preserved,  died 
young,  and  were  not  married;  his  second  son,  Ebenezer,  married,  had  a  son. 
Preserved,  and  a  daughter,  Hannah;  he  was  killed  at  raising  my  Grandfather 
Moody's  house;  his  son  went  into  the  army  and  died  with  sickness;  his  daugh- 
ter married,  had  a  family,  and  died  in  old  age.  My  grandfather's  third  son, 
Samuel,  married  Sarah  Morton,  and  had  12  children.  My  grandfather's  fourth 
son,  Chileab  Smith,  who  was  my  father,  married  Sarah  Moody,  and  had  13 
children.  My  grandfather's  fifth  son,  James,  married  Sara  Smith;  had  only 
two  daughters  that  lived  to  grow  uj).  Samuel,  Chileab,  James,  three  brothers, 
all  lived  to  be  upwards  of  90  years  of  age,  and  died  one  after  another — as  they 
were  born.     My  grandfather's  sixth  son,  Moses,   died  when  a  child. 

"  My  father's  children  were  Mary,  who  lived  to  have  a  family,  and  died 
Aug.  4,  1787;  then  myself,  Ebenezer,  then  Mosos,  Sarah,  Jemima  and  Chileab, 
who  are  all  living;  then  Enos  and  Mariam,  who  died  little  children;  then 
Mariam  and  Enos,  who  are  yet  living;  then  a  son  who  died  an  infant;  then  a 
daughter,  Eunice,  who  is  yet  living.  Of  my  father's  twelve  children,  four 
sons  and  four  daughters  are  yet  living,  April  30,  1823.  I  am  the  oldest,  in  my 
89th  year.  Eunice,  the  youngest,  in  her  67th  year.  My  grandmother,  Mary 
Smith,  died  in  1763,  aged  82  years.  My  mother  died  on  her  birthday,  Dec. 
23,  1789.  My  father  died  Aug.  19,  1800,  aged  92  years.  I  married  Remember 
Ellis  July  1,  1756,  and  she  died  Sept.  15,  1795,  aged  60.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Richard  Ellis,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  Aug.  16,  1704,  and  died  in  Ashfield 
Oct.  7,  1797,  aged  93  years.  He  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  13  years,  and 
lived  in  Easton,  then  moved  to  Deerfield,  then  to  Huntstown,  now  Ashfield, 
in  the  year  1750.  He  was  the  first  settler  of  that  town,  and  cut  down  the 
first  tree  in  the  town.  I  married  Lucy  Shepardson  June  14,  1796,  and  she 
died  Oct.  5,  1808,  aged  68.  I  married  Esther  Harvey  Jan.  4,  1809,  and  she 
died  Oct.  14,  1814,  aged  78,  since  which  time  I  have  lived  alone;  that  is,  with- 
out any  companion,  and  spent  my  time  chiefly  in  preaching  the  Gospel.  My 
children  are  so  scattered  about  the  world  that  I  cannot  tell  how  many  there 
are  of  them,  but,  by  the  best  information  that  I  can  get,  I  suppose  that  there 
is  not  much  odds  of  one  hundred  of  my  posterity  now  living.  I  never  expect 
to  see  but  few  of  them  in  this  world,  but  if  we  may  all  meet  in  that  world  of 
JOY,  how  happy  it  will  be;  but,  oh  !  how  awful  the  thought  that  any  of  my 
offspring  should  hear  that  dreadful  sound :  Depart !  0  thou  God  of  grace,  dis- 
play Thy  saving  power  and  bring  them  home  to  Thyself.  And  oh,  my  dear 
children,  my  prayer  for  you  is  that  you  might  be  saved.  You  must  deny 
yourselvea  and  follow  the  Lamb,  or  lie  down  in  sorrow  for  eternity.  "  Strait 
is  the  gate  and  narrow  the  way  that  leadeth  to  life,  and  few  there  be  that  find 
it. "  Oh,  to  be  born  again,  and  become  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus,  is  of 
infinite  importance  to  every  one.  So  I  leave  this  as  the  token  of  my  regard 
for  my  dear  children,  praying  the  Lord  to  bless  them  all. " 

P.  S. — My  son,  Ebenezer:  I  commit  this  to  your  care  to  show  to  as  many 
of  my  children  and  grandchildren  as  you  have  opportunity,     E.  S. 

Letter  from  Dea.  Aaron  Smith,  of  Stockton,  N.  Y.,  to  his  second  cousin,       . 
Dea.Ziba  Smith,  of  Ashfield,  dated  Mar.  30, 1851.  Aaron  was  a  son  of  Ebenezer,   X 
Jr.,  and  grandson  of  Elder  Ebenezer  Smith.     Ziba  was  a  son  of  Chileab,  3d, 
and  grandson  of  Chileab,  Jr.     The  latter  was  a  brother  of  Elder  Ebenezer. 


\ 


i 


r 


402 

"Dear  Cousiw:     I  sit  down  to  inform  you  of  our  welfare.     We  are  all 
well  as  usual.     It  is  a  j^eneral  time  of  health  here.     I  have  had  a  ({ood  deal 
of  sickness  in  my  family  since  I  have  be/zun  to  keep  house.     I  have  had  ten 
children;  have  buried  tive  of  them,  all  daughters;  have  three  sons  and  two 
daughters  living;  the  oldest  a  daughter  of  22,  the  youngest  a  son  7  years  of 
age.     As  to  religion,  it  is  quite  a  low  time  here.     Ziba,  I  want  to  see  you  and 
your  family,  and  brothers  and  sisters,  very  much,  ouce  more,  in  the  land  of 
the  living.     Have  not  forgotten  the  comfort  taken  in  your  company  at  school, 
and  at  the  old  Baptist  meeting-house,  in  singing,  in  our  younger  days.     I  want 
to  go  to  New  England,  the  land  of  my  l)irth,  once  more;  think  some  of  going 
this  season,  if  my  life  is  spared  and  my  family  are  well.     The  last  time  I  saw 
you  was  thirty-one  years  ago  this  month,  at  your  father's.     I  want  to  go  with 
you  once  more  on  to  the  ground  where  the  old  meeting-house  used  to  stand; 
also  to  the  burying  ground;  think  I  could  pick  out  Jeduthan's  grave;  also  our 
great  grandfather's,  Chileab  Smith's;  and  the  first  one  who  was  buried  there, 
who  was  a  sister  of  your  father.     My  father  and  mother  are  quite  old  and 
feeble.     Father  doesn't  labor  any;  his  memory  is  very  good  for  so  old  a  man; 
he  lives  with  his  youngest  daughter;  he  will  be  85  next  month.     My  brother 
Quartus  and  his  wife  are  well,  also  Gerry  and  my  sisters.     Your  cousm,  Na- 
than Smith,  and  family  are  all  well;  his  four  older  sons  are  great  stout  giants, 
your  aunt  Naomi  is  well,  and  lives  with  Lyman,  on  the  Fox  river,  in  Illinois; 
he  has  married  his  second  wife.     Your  cousin  Sawyer  Phillips  is  well;  he  has 
sold  his  farm  and  gone  to  Latarany;  it  Is  70  miles  from  here.     His  oldest 
son  is  a  widower;  his  second  son  married  Asa  Ellis'  daughter,  is  a  doctor,  and 
lives  near  his  father.     Your  cousin  Hiram  Lazelle  and  family  are  all  well;  he 
pays  the  highest  tax  in  town — that  is  $30;  he  has  a  dairy  of  sixty  cows,  the 
income  of  which  last  season  was  $1,800.     Your  cousin  Philip   Lazelle  and 
family  are  well.     He  and  Royal  Carter  are  in  the  mercantile  trade;  are  doing 
well.     Royal's  mother  is  well.     Your  cousin  Alvrary  Lazelle  is  well.     I  will 
give  you  a  sketch  of  the  Smith  family  which  we  belong  to :     It  is  to  be  traced 
to  Rev.  Henry  Smith,  of  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  who  came  from  Old  England. 
All  such  information  is  important  to  be  collected  for  the  benefit  of  our  posterity, 
that  the  branch  of  Smiths  that  we  belong  to  may  not  be  lost.     Henry  Smith 
is  as  far  back  as  I  can  trace  our  ancestors. 

The  first  of  our  ancestors  that  came  from  England  were  Henry  Smith  and 
his  wife,  Dorithy  Smith.  On  his  passage  to  this  country  he  had  a  son  bom, 
and  from  the  unusual  circumstances  of  his  birth  he  called  his  name  Preserved, 
which  is  the  origin  of  this  name,  which  has  since  been  retained  in  several 
branches  of  the  families  of  his  posterity.  The  first  notice  of  Henry  Smith  is 
on  the  records  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  Charlestown,  Ma.ss.  He 
and  his  wife  Dorithy  were  admitted  to  the  full  communion  of  the  church  the 
5th  of  October,  1637.  It  is  believed  he  came  to  America  in  the  year  1637, 
which  was  seventeen  years  after  the  Plymouth  company.  He  was  the  first 
minister  of  the  first  Congregational  church  in  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  as  near  as 
can  be  ascertained.  He  was  installed  in  the  spring  of  1641,  at  which  time  the 
church  was  gathered.  He  died  in  1648,  and  very  little  is  known  of  his 
ministry.  Dorithy,  his  widow,  married  a  Mr.  Russell,  father  of  Rev.  John 
Russell,  who  succeeded  Henry  Smith  in  the  ministry  at  Wethersfield.  Mr. 
Russell  and  his  son,  the  minister,  went  to  Hadley  with  a  colony,  comprising 


403 

the  larger  body  of  the  church,  in  1659,  and  some  of  Henry  Smith's  children 
went  with  the  colony  to  Hadley  and  settled  there.  Rev.  Henry  Smith  was 
ffce&t  grandfather  to  our  great  grandfather,  Chileab  Smith.  We  are  the  sev- 
enth generation  from  the  Rev.  Henry  Smith  The  Preserved  born  on  the 
passage  to  this  country  was  grandfather  to  our  great  grandfather,  Chileab 
Smith.  Our  great  grandfather's  father's  name  was  Preserved,  jr.  Our  great 
grandfather,  Chileab  Smith,  was  born  in  South  Hadley,  June  1,  1708,  and  died 
Aug.  19,  1800,  in  the  9M  year  of  his  age.  He  left  when  he  died,  living,  8 
children,  46  grandchildren  and  91  great  grandchildren;  total,  145.  He  was 
ordained  in  the  Gospel  ministry  when  he  was  80  years  of  age.  He  had  a 
family  of  12  children.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Huntstown,  now 
Ashfield.  He  settled  in  the  town  in  the  year  1751.  My  grandfather,  Elder 
Ebenezer  Smith,  was  bom  in  South  Hadley  Oct.  4,  1734.  He  began  to  preach 
Nov.  29,  1753;  ordained  Aug.  20,  1761.  He  died  July  6,  1824,  aged  89  years. 
He  had  a  family  of  seven  children.  He  was  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel  ministry 
72  years,  and  preached  nine  thousand  and  twenty  sermons,  rode  one  horse  19 
years,  and  traveled  in  that  time  23,000  miles.  Our  great  aunt,  Jemima  Shep< 
ard,  was  bom  in  South  Hadley  March  26,  1740,  and  died  Sept.  29,  1828,  aged 
88  years.  She  had  a  family  of  seven  children.  I  will  give  you  a  sketch  of 
what  my  grandfather  left  on  record  before  he  died.  [See  above.]  Twelve  ofi  . 
our  great  grandfather  Chileab  Smith's  posterity  are  and  have  been  ministers;  A 
all  living  but  three;  two  settled  in  this  county,  and  five  of  the  females  married 
ministers;  two  of  them  and  their  husbands  are  missionaries,  one  in  China  and 
the  other  in  India.  There  is  not  much  odds  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  of  his 
posterity  living  in  this  county;  the  sixth  generation  from  him  lives  in  this 
to^^^l,  and  the  tenth  from  Rev.  Henry  Smith  lives  in  the  county.  If  you 
conclude  to  come  here  this  season,  send  me  a  letter  the  time  you  are  going  to 
start  on  your  journey,  that  I  may  not  miss  of  you  if  I  go  down,  for  1  want  to 
visit  you  more  than  any  one  in  Ashfield.  Give  my  respects  to  your  brothers 
and  sisters,  especially  to  Betsey  and  her  husband.  Read  this  to  your  brother 
Elias  and  your  sisters.  ^ 

Believe  me  your  affectionate  relative, 

AARON  SMITH. 
To  Dka.  Ziba  Smith,  of  Ashfield. 

Of  Ebenezer  Smith,  Jr.,  second  son  of  Elder  Ebenezer,  and  Remember  X 
(Ellis)  Smith,  and  his  descendants,  an  acquaintance  writes  as  follows:  /    \ 

"They  all  lived  in  my  native  town  of  Stockton.  Ebenzer,  Jr.,  was  a 
self-educated  man,  could  calculate  an  eclipse  with  accuracy.  He  was  a  nat- 
ural mathematician  [like  his  sister  Jemima,  see  page  92],  and  able  to  solve 
any  problem,  that  the  inquisitive  pedagogue  had  the  inclination  to  offer. 
Venerable  Doctors  of  Divinity  would  visit  him,  for  his  opinion  on  Bible  exposi- 
tions. He  was  greatly  afflicted  with  rheumatism,  for  more  than  twenty  of  his 
last  years.  He  was  a  small  man  in  stature,  but  very  active,  never  requiring 
more  than  four  or  five  hours  sleep  in  the  twenty-four.  The  young  and  old 
sought  his  counsel,  as  well  as  to  share  the  richly  stored  knowledge  he  possessed. 
He  was  a  great  reader,  and  it  was  said  he  never  forgot  a  thing  worth  remem- 
bering. When  he  began  to  converse,  he  would  always  say  how  limited  was 
our  knowledge  to  what  the  human  intellect  was  capable  of,  and  would  speak 
often  of  the  attainments  we  should  make  in  the  future  life.     He  was  thor- 


404 

ooghly  orthodox  and  often  spoke  of  the  masterly  love  of  God,  in  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  world.  His  dauj^hter,  Keziah,  tenderly  cared  for  the  aged  couple. 
He  died  in  1855  and  was  buried  in  the  Cassadaga  Cemetery,  by  the  side  of  hi» 
son,  Ebenezer,  who  died  a  youo?  man,  about  twenty  years  previous.  See 
page  96. 

"Of  his  children:  Dea.  Aaron  Smith  married  Laura  Harrison,  who  was 
born  in  Conn.,  May  29,  1802,  and  is  now  living  on  the  old  homestead — next  to 
the  lands  of  his  father,  Ebenezer,  which  was  bought  of  the  Holland  Land 
Company,  in  1816.  Aaron  Smith  was  a  very  peculiar  man,  perfectly  unos- 
tentatious, possessing  a  memory  of  history  and  events  that  is  rarely  equaled; 
self-sacrificing  and  willing  to  deny  himself,  that  he  might  add  to  the  happi- 
ness of  others.  He,  like  all  the  others,  was  a  zealous  Baptist  of  the  old  type, 
but  it  seldom  expressed  itself  in  other  than  noble,  honest  and  benevolent  acts. 
He  possessed  great  fondness  for  relics  and  archeological  specimens,  and  his 
collection  of  such,  and  manuscripts,  was  quite  extended.  He  had  in  his 
collection  spikes  and  hinges,  from  the  door  of  the  fort  at  Deerfield,  Mass., 
where  the  settlers  defended  themselves  before  the  Bloody  Brook  massacre  at 
that  place,  by  the  Indians.  He  was  a  historian  of  quite  enviable  attainments, 
and  often  his  countenance  would  brighten  in  describing  events  in  the  reign  of 
the  Cesars.  He  died  in  1876,  aged  upwards  of  80  years.  He  quietly  passed 
away,  conscious  to  the  last. .  cheerfully  welcoming  the  change.  He  was 
buried  in  the  old  Stockton  Cemetery  by  the  side  of  several  of  his  children. 
He  had  ten  children;  only  three  of  whom  are  living,  two  sons  and  a 
daughter.  The  two  sons  live  upon  the  old  homestead  and  are  highly 
prosperous  and  worthy  citizens.  The  only  daughter  living  (Pomilla), 
married  August  Somberger,  a  worthy  farmer,  and  lives  in  the  adjoining 
town  of  Charlotte.  The  sons,  (living)  names  are  William,  who  married 
Minerva  Guest,  and  they  have  one  child,  named  Aaron,  the  other  son 
(living),  Aaron  Jr.,  is  unmarried  and  lives  with  his  mother  on  the  farm. 

"An  older  brother,  Cyrus,  who  died  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  was 
with  Sherman  in  his  grand  campaign  through  the  South,  and  was  a  brave  and 
loyal  soldier.  He  died  in  Iowa,  He  left  two  daughters;  one,  named  Laura, 
has  lived  here  with  her  uncle  Aaron,  Jr.,  since  her  father's  death,  and  in 
December,  1887,  was  married  to  Edson  Phillips,  a  son  of  Wm.'^V.  Phillips. 
See  page  379. 

"  Quartus,  the  second  son  of  Ebenezer,  married  Pomilla  Shepard,  a 
daughter  of  Dea.  Samuel  Shepard  and  grand-daughter  of  Jemima  (Smith) 
Shepard.  They  had  no  children.  Both  lived  to  be  upwards  of  eighty  years 
of  age.  They  were  industrious  and  frugal  in  their  habits,  accumulated  a 
competence  and  were  liberal  in  charitable  objects  and  strongly  attached  to 
the  religious  faith  of  their  ancestors.  As  they  were  childless,  the  last  few 
years  of  their  lives  were  spent  with  her  sister  Polly,  (Mrs.  Isaac  Miller),  and 
their  son,  Phineas  M.  Miller,  who  gladdened  their  last  years  with  all  the 
kindness  and  affection  of  an  own  child.  Mrs.  Smith  died  January  14,  1885. 
They  were  buried  in  the  Stockton  Cemetery  and  the  highest  granite  monu- 
ment of  the  ground  marks  their  last  resting  place. 

"Fidelia  Smith,  dau.  of  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  married  Elijah  Woods,  who  was 
a  native  of  Keene,  N.  H.  She  was  a  woman  who  possessed  the  usual  family 
traits  in  a  marked  degree,  which  rendered  her  a  devoted  mother  to  her  chiL 


405 

dren,  and  a  worthy  help  and  aid  to  her  companion  in  early  pioneer  life. 
They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters;  two  of  the 
sons  died  in  boyhood  The  oldest,  Fidelia  Woods,  married  Dr.  A.  P.  Phillips, 
a  native  of  her  own  town.  See  page  379.  They  had  three  children,  Jenny, 
Burton  and  Frank  Hamilton  Phillips.  Frank  died  in  1875,  and  Jenny  in 
1878.  Burton  m.  Nellie  Baker;  had  one  son,  named  Frank  B.,  who  died 
in  1882  aged  three  years.     The  father  had  died  in  1880. 

"  Gerry  Smith  was  the  fourth  of  Ebenezer  Jr.  's  children.  He  suflFered 
early  from  physical  infirmities.  He  m.  Louisa,  daughter  of  Barzillai  Ellis,  of 
Sheriden,  Chaut.  County,  and  had  a  family  of  six  children.  Three  were  sol- 
diers in  the  Union  Army,  and  two  (William  and  Hiram)  sacrificed  their 
lives.  Three  are  now  living.  Flora,  a  daughter,  married  Alson  Tambling,  a 
thriving  farmer,  and  resides  in  Pomfret,  where  her  father  was  so  tenderly 
cared  for  and  died  about  1882.     His  wife,  Louisa,  died  about  1870. 

"Rebecca,  dan.  of  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  married  Freeman  Richardson.  They 
had  eight  children,  all  born  in  Stockton.  They  emigrated  to  North  La 
Crosse,  Wis.,  about  1855.  The  husband  died  there,  about  1865,  and  she  in 
1887.  Most  of  her  family  are  settled  in  that  vicinity.  She  was  a  noble 
woman,  partaking  freely  of  the  '  Smith '  blood,  and  was  a  devoted  Christian 
of  the  Baptist  faith." 

1.  Rev.  Henry  Smith  and  his  wife,  Dorithy,  came  from  England  in  1637. 
(See  above).  Their  children  were:  Mary,  John,  Preserved  (2),  Samuel  (3), 
Dorithy,  Joanna,  Noah  and  Elijah. 

2.  Preserved  Smith  was  born  in  1637,  on  board  of  ship  coming  to  America. 
Of  his  children  we  have  an  account  of  but  one,  Preserved  (4). 

3.  Samuel  Smith,  son  of  Rev.  Henry  (1),  had  a  large  family  of  children: 
Samuel,  Sarah,  Dorithy,  Ebenezer,  Ichabod,  Mary,  James  and  Preserved.  /^ 

4.  Preserved  Smith,  son  of  Preserved  (2),  married  and  had  seven  children. 
He  died  when  his  children  were  young.     His  wife,  Mary,  was  born  in  1681 
and  died  in  1763.     Their  children  were  Preserved,  Mary,  Ebenezer,  Samuel,    s^ 
Ghileab  (5),   James  and  Moses.     Preserved,    Mary  and  Moses  died  young. 
Ebenezer  was  killed  at  the  raising  of  Mr.  Moody's?  barn;  he  had  two  children 

— Preserved,  who  died  in  the  army,  and  Hannah,  who  married  and  had  a 
famdy.  Samuel  m.  Sarah  Morton  and  had  12  children.  He  lived  to  be  over 
90  years  of  age.  He  settled  in  Northfield,  Mass.  -James  m.  Sarah  Smith, 
and  lived  to  be  over  90.     He  had  two  daughters. 

.5.  Chileab  Smith,  son  of  Preserved  (4),  was  born  in  South  Hadley  in 
1708.  He  m.  Sarah  Moody  and  became  the  third  settler  in  Ashfield,  in  1751. 
He  was,  in  his  time,  the  most  noted  man  in  Ashfield,  and  was  the  champion 
of  the  Baptists  for  many  years  in  that  town.  In  1774  he  printed  a  pamphlet 
of  18  pages,  entitled  "  An  Answer  to  the  many  Slanderous  Reports  Cast  on  the 
Baptists  at  Ashfield,  wherein  is  Shown  the  First  Rise  and  Growth  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church  there,  together  with  the  Sufferings  they  Passed  Through."  This 
work  was  in  the  possession  of  one  of  his  descendants,  Mrj.  Rebecca  Smith 
Richardson,  of  North  LaCrosse,  Wis.  Mr.  Smith  died  in  1800.  His  children 
were:  Mary,  Ebenezer  (6),  Moses,  Sarah,  Jemima,  Chileab  (7),  Mariam,  Enos 
(8),  Eunice,  and  three  others  who  died  young.  Mary  m.  Nathan  Chapin. 
They  lived  and  died  in  Ashfield,  where  some  of  their  posterity  are  yet  to  be 
iound.     They  had  seven  children.     Moses  m.   Diathena  Briggs  and  had  11 


X 


f 


406 

children.  He  died  March,  1828,  aged  94  years.  Sarah  m.  three  times — Na- 
thaniel Harvey,  Israel  Standish  and  Samuel  Elmer.  She  died  aged  92. 
Jemima  m.  Dea.  I«aac  Shepard,  of  Ashfield.  She  died  in  Stockton  Oct.  29, 
1828.  Mariam  m.  Ephraim  Jennings  and  had  5  children.  Eunice  m.  Benja- 
min Randall. 

6.  Elder  Ebenezar  Smith,  son  of  Chileab,  Sr.  (5),  m.  Remember  Ellis. 
The  last  few  years  of  his  life  was  spent  with  his  son,  Dea.  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  in 
Stockton,  N.  Y.  He  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  in  the  village  of  Delanti — 
which  is  in  the  town  of  Stockton — by  the  side  of  his  grandson,  Quartus,  and  hia 
sister,  Jemima,  widow  of  Dea.  Isaac  Shepard.  A  neat  monument  marks  his 
grave.     For  further  account  of  him  and  his  descendants  see  p.  71. 

7.  Ohileab  Smith.  Jr.,  son  of  Chileab  (5),  was  born  in  Hadley,  Mass., 
Oct.  16,  1742;  died  in  Ashfield  May  25,  1843.  He  married  for  his  first  wife 
Elizabeth  Sawyer,  of  Montague,  and  raised  three  children,  two  sons  (twins) 
and  a  daughter— Chileab,  3d  (9),  Jeduthan  (10),  and  Elizabeth  (11).  Chileab, 
Jr.  (7),  had  four  wives.  He  manied  the  last  when  he  was  96  years  of  age,  and 
it  is  recorded  that  "the  fifth  generation  of  his  posterity  were  present  at  the 
nuptials."  His  last  wife  outlived  him.  Long  accustomed  to  the  good  old 
ways,  he  at  first  opposed,  it  is  said,  the  use  of  stoves  and  instrumental  music 
in  churches.  He  was  a  rigid  Baptist,  a  sincere  and  pious  man,  and  believed  in 
the  Divine  ordinance  of  marriage,  claiming  that,  as  to  his  wives,  "the  Lord 
provided  them,"  and  each  time  that  "  the  last  was  the  best."  Good  philoso- 
phy, whether  based  on  religious  motives  or  not.  He  outlived  all  his  children. 
The  writer  saw  him  a  year  or  two  before  his  death.  He  retained  much 
of  his  mental  and  physical  vigor  to  the  last.  Ashfield  produced  many  aged 
men,  but  Chileab  Smith,  Jr.,  was  noted  as  the  only  one  who  reached  the  full 
period  of  a  century. 

8.  Elder  Enos  Smith,  youngest  son  of  Chileab,  Sr.  (5),  was  a  Baptist 
minister  over  40  years  in  Ashfield.  He  m.  Hannah  Drake,  of  Buckland.  He 
died  at  87  years  of  age.  Their  children  were  Zebina,  m.  Hannah  Smith; 
Calvin,  m.  Eunice  Cobb;  Emery,  m.  a  Johnson;  Uriah,  m.  Hatura  Smith; 
Laurilla,  m.  Ozee  Munson;»Enos,  m.  Cynthia  Chapin;  Theressa,  m.  Hiram 
Richmond,  brother  of  Elijah;  Julia  m.  Nathan  Elmer. 

O.  Chileab  Smith,  3d  son  of  Chileab,  Jr.  (7),  was  bom  in  Ashfield  Aug. 
4,  1765;  d.  1839.  He  m.  Lydia  Briggs.  Their  children  were:  *Daniel,  Lucy, 
Betsey,  Patty,  Huldab,  Russell,  Sybil,  Louisa,  Ziba  (12),  and  Elias  (13). 

10.  Jeduthan  Smith,  twin  brother  of  the  above,  d.  1835;  m.  Naomi 
Bryant.  Of  their  children:  Nathan,  born  Sept.  15,  1788,  m.  Sally  Putnam;^ 
Polly  died  at  the  age  of  56;  Benajah,  Eunice,  Jeremiah,  Lydia,  Amerancy, 
Andrew,  £Izra,  Lyman,  Jeduthan,  d.  aged  19;  William  d.  aged  21. 

Jeduthan  came  to  Chaut.  Co.  in  1816,  but  afterwards  went  west,  where 
he  died.  His  son,  Nathan,  came  with  him  from  Ashfield  and  settled  in 
Cassadaga,  N.  Y.,  and  had  a  family  as  follows:  Dexter,  now  in  Stockton; 
Pliny  and  Jason  in  Fredonia;  Sidney  in  Boston,  Mass. ;  Newell  and  Lydia  in 
Stockton;  Naomi,  who  died  in  1847,  and  Charlotte,  who  m.  Ami  Richardson, 
and  has  several  children  in  Chaut.  Co. 

11.  Elizabeth  Smith,  dau.  of  Chileab  (7),  m.  Philip  Phillips,  Jr.,  and 
moved  to  Cassadaga,  N.  Y.     (See  page  379). 

*Tbe  star  indicates  that  the  births  of  these  children  were  not  in  the  order  named. 


407 

12.  Ziba  Smith,  son  of  Chileab,  3d  (9),  was  born  April  9,  1797; 
he  lived  and  died  in  Ashfield.  He  was  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  church. 
He  died  June  5,  1881,  aged  84;  married  December,  1821,  Rebecca  Thayer; 
she  died  1830;  married  (second)  June,  1832,  Hannah  Holoway;  she  died 
July  18,  1887.  Their  children  were:  Edward  T.,  born  December  26, 
1823,  died  185J;  Lucius  F.,  born  May  25,  1826,  died  1855;  Hassadiah, 
b.  April  17,  1830,  m.  Austin  Drake;  Josiah  Holoway,  b.  March  24,  1835, 
d.  about  1870;  Lydia  M.,  b.  June  6,  1839,  m.  Drake;  has  one  daughter; 
Sarah  S.,  b.  May  2,  1842,  (died),  married  November,  1873;  John  L.  Newell; 
had  one  son;  Houghton  Z  ,  b.  February  22,  1846,  (14). 

13.  Eliaa  Smith,  son  of  Chileab  3d,  (9)  was  born  October  10,  1799,  died 
July  4,  1879;  married  Lydia  Holoway.     She  died  July  25,  1875;  no  children. 

14.  Houghton  Z.  Smith,  son  of  Ziba,  (12)  b.  February  22,  1846;  is  a 
farmer;  resides  in  AsHeld,  and  owns  the  land  where  his  forefather,  Chileab 
Smith,  Sr.,  settled  in  1751.  His  is  the  only  Smith  family  in  that  townshii) 
representing  that  ancestry.  He  m.  April  20,  1870,  Sarah  M.,  dau.  of  Samuel 
Howes,  and  their  childen  are:  Charles  Ziba,  born  April  5,  1871;  Anna  May, 
b.  September  9,  1872;  George  Holton,  b.  February  22,  1877;  Frank  Holoway, 
b.  September  16,  1878.  Mr.  Houghton  Z,  Smith  lives  at  or  near  35.  See 
map  page  328. 


THE  BASSETTS. 


Toward  the  close  of  the  last  century,  among  the  many  immigrants  from 
Cape  Cod,  were  two  sons  of  Capt,  Elisha  Bassett,  of  Dennis,  Elisha,  and  Lot. 

1.  Elisha  Bassett,  with  Susanna,  his  wife,  settled  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Ezra  Packard,  near  the  great  pond.  He  was  bom  in  1745;  died 
December  31,  1832.  His  wife  d.  July  27,  1831;  had  four  children,  Mary, 
Henry,  Abigail  and  William. 

Mary  Bassett,  born  in  1774;  died  in  Ashfield,  February  15,  1855.  She 
married  Alvan  Clark,  and  had  nine  children.  Her  fourth  child,  Alvan  Clark, 
Jr.,  was  born  in  Ashfield,  March  8,  1804.  He  was  a  successful  portrait 
painter,  and  later  became  noted  and  distinguished  as  an  astronomer,  and  as  a 
manufacturer  of  telescopes.  The  one  in  the  Lick  Observatory,  on  Mount 
Hamilton,  California — the  largest  one  in  the  world — was  made  by  him  and 
his  sons.     He  died  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Aug.  19,  1887,  aged  83  years. 

Henry  Bassett,  Esq.,  born  August  9,  1775;  died  in  Ashfield,  October  4, 
1851;  farmer;  a  respected  and  honored  citizen;  was  for  several  years  town 
clerk,  selectman,  treasurer  and  member  of  State  Legislature.  He  married 
Hannah,  dau.  of  Capt.  Philip  Phillips.  She  d.  February  7,  1849.  See  page 
381.  Their  children  were:  Susanna,  boru  1801;  m.  J.  F.  Upton,  no  children; 
George,  born  April  2,  1803,  d.  April  11,  1885,  unmarried;  Mercy,  born  June 
4,  1805,  died  February  21,  1874;  m.  Lorenzo  Lilly,  and  had  four  children; 
Phillip,  born  September  19,  1807,  d.  June  17,  1874;  was  selectman  and  mem- 
ber of  legislature;  m.  Sarah  Vincent,  she  d.  June  1,  1862;  he  m.  (second) 
Jerusha  S.,  dau.  of  Sanford  Boice,  has  one  daughter;  Henry,  born  April  22, 
1810,  lives  in  Cliarlemont;  m.  Hannah  Chapman;  has  children;  William, 
born  November  1,  1819,  d.  November  9,  1869;  m.  Lucretia  Crittenden;  no 
child;  Hannah,  Anna  and  Mary  Bassett  died,  unmarried. 


4o8 

Abigail  Bassett,  born  1782;  d.  1867.  She  ni.  Barnabas  Howes,  and  had 
nine  children,  born  in  Ashfield.  Her  son,  Barnabas  Howes,  Jr.,  has  published 
historical  sketches  of  Astield.     See  page  304. 

Capt.  William  Bassett,  born  in  1787.  An  estimable  citizen.  About  the 
year  18*25,  settled  on  the  Capt.  Philip  Phillips'  farm,  where  he  d.  September 
22,  1857.  He  m.  in  1823,  Nancy,  dau.  of  John  Alden;  she  died  April  8,  1840. 
He  m.  (second)  November  1841,  Lydia  Gray.  Their  children  are  VVm.  F.,  b. 
July  11,  1825,  and  Nancy,  b.  August  22,  1828. 

2.  Lot  Bassett,  (son  of  Capt.  Elisha,)  was  born  in  1755.  Settled  on  a 
farm,  in  the  Spruce  comer  district,  about  1784;  farmer  and  land  surveyor; 
bad  served  some  years  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  died  July  23,  1835;  m. 
Deborah  Howes.     She  d.  June  6.  1846.     They  had  ten  children. 

William,  born  December  17,  1782;  lived  in  Hawley,  and  died  there  in 
old  age;  had  two  children. 

Elisha,  Deborah  and  Mary  Bassett  died  young. 

Thomas,  born  April  10,  1789,  d.  about  1862;  m.  Fanny  Sears;  had  nine 
children;  oldest  son,  Elisha  Bassett,  bom  in  Ashtield,  is  a  lawyer  in  Boston, 
and  Clerk  of  the  United  States  District  Court. 

Lydia,  bom  February  10,  1794,  d.  July  7,  1880;  m.  Lucius  Smith,  and 
iiad  seven  children. 

Francis,  born  May  4,  1796,  in  Ashtield;  d.  May  18,  1876.  He  m.  Mehit- 
abel  Ford,  and  had  three  sons,  who  are  in  business  in  New  York,  and  six 
daughters,  of  whom,  Jnlift  A. ,  the  eldest,  is  wife  of  Henry  S.  Ranney.  See 
page  391. 

Abigail,  born  May  27,  1799;  d.  May  5,  1881. 

Samuel,  born  July  26,  1802;  d.  April  11,  1876.  He  was  member  of 
School  Committee  many  years,  and  teacher  for  over  twenty  terms. 

Lot,  born  March  13,  1805;  d.  March  15,  1881.  Had  served  as  selectman, 
and  justice  of  the  peace.  The  three  last-named  remained  in  possession  of 
the  old  homestead  farm,  and  were  unmarried.  The  inventory  of  their  estate 
was  nearly  -§100,000, 


EXTRACTS    FROM    RECORDS   OF    FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH   IN 
ASHFIELD. 

December  24,  1800.  At  this  meeting,  after  solemn  labor  with  Bro. 
Elisha  Smith*  for  joining  the  Freemasons.  After  choosintj  a  committee  to 
confer  with  him,  and  after  solemn  labor  with  him,  the  Church  voted  that  they 
could  not  commune  with  him  in  his  present  condition. 

May  27,  1801.  After  considerable  labor  with  Zadok  King,  for  his  joining 
the  Methodists.  Voted  that  this  Church  cannot  commune  with  him. — [Zadok 
wanted  a  letter  giving  Scriptural  reasons  for  their  course.  ] 

1803.  Elisha  Smith  wished  to  be  restored  to  the  Church.  After  much 
labor  with  him  the  matter  was  postponed  to  some  future  opportunity. 

June  24,  1818.  Voted  to  give  Bro.  David  Ellis  and  his  wife,  Bro.  Wil- 
liam Ellis  and  his  wife,  a  letter  of  recommendation  where  God  in  his  Provi- 
dence may  cast  their  lot.     [See  page  87 .] 

*Froiu  BuckUnd ;  father  of  Hojrt  Smith. 


409 

April  25,  1827.  After  consulting  about  the  Freemasons,  voted  that  it  is 
a  burden  to  the  Church  that  any  of  its  members  should  be  of  that  order. 

June  IS,  1828.  At  a  Church  meeting:  voted  that  it  is  a  grief  to  the 
Ohurch  for  any  member  of  the  Church  to  belong  to  the  Freemasons,  but,  voted 
that  the  grief  is  not  so  great  as  to  expel  a  member  from  the  communion;  by 
thirteen  members  to  five  against  it,  including  the  Elder  for  one. 

At  a  Church  meeting,  June  25.  Voted  again,  that  it  is  a  grief  for  any 
member  to  belong  to  the  Freemasons.  Five  members,  including  the  Elder, 
voted  that  they  have  no  fellowship  with  the  Freemasons.  Voted  to  put  by 
the  communion  next  Lord's  day,  by  reasons  of  the  difiiculty  attending  those 
five  members  as  mentioned  above. 

Lord's  day,  June  29.  By  reason  of  so  general  attendance  of  the  Church 
and  the  materials  for  the  communion  provided,  the  Church  voted  to  recon- 
sider the  above  vote  for  putting  by  the  communion.  Voted,  by  a  great 
majority,  to  attend  upon  the  communion  this  day. 

August  27.  Taking  into  consideration,  concerning  the  Freemasons  who 
belong  to  the  Church,  the  following  was  voted : 

' '  Viewing  the  imperfections  of  mankind  which  causes  various  minds  in 
the  Church,  we  view  it  reasonable  and  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  that  we 
should  use  great  condescension  one  towards  the  other  in  church  discipline,  and 
not  hastily  expel  a  member  from  the  Church  who  thinks  diflFerent  from  us,  who 
are  the  majority.  We  find  that  many  things  creep  into  the  Church  hurtful  to 
the  minds  of  some;  one  in  partictrbur  concerning  the  Freemasons,  which  causes 
uneasiness  for  a  member  to  join  that  order;  and,  as  there  is  some  of  that 
order  who  are  members  of  our  Church,  we  view  it  as  a  duty,  as  a  body,  to  let 
it  be  known  throughout  the  Church,  that  we  think  it  will  be  for  the  union 
of  the  Church  and  for  the  honor  of  religion,  for  those  members  of  the  Masonic 
order  not  to  meet  with  the  lodge,  to  the  grief  of  their  brethren,  which  if 
they  do,  they  may  expect  it  will  cause  a  labour  if  not  a  discipline  with  them. 
And,  if  any  member  hereafter  should  join  the  Freemasons,  knowing  that  it  is 
a  grief  to  the  Church,  it  should  be  considered  just  grounds  for  the  Church  to 
excommunicate  them." 


y 


NAMES   or  [SOLDIERS   WHO  BECAME   ENTITLED   TO    "  RIGHTS "    OF 
LAND  IN  ASHFIELD. 

The  following  list  of  soldiers,  in  the  Canada  expedition  in  1690,  by  sea 
and  by  land,  is  copied  verbatim  from  the  manuscript  record,  that  was  evi- 
dently made  by  the  clerk  or  soma  member  of  the  company.  His  remark  that 
' '  several  dyed  "  accounts  for  the  remainder  of  the  company. 

Capt.   Hunt  was  Colonel  in  the  expedition  at  Groton,  Mass.,   against 
Indians  in  1706-7,  &c.     He  died  at  Weymouth  in  1713,  aged  63.     He  had      X 
twelve  children. 

The  sacrifice  of  toil  and  blood,  which  was  the  price  of  the  territory  of 
this  township,  should  at  least  be  recognized  in  the  preservation  of  the  names 
of  those  by  whom  it  was  accomplished.     [H.  S.  R.] 

' '  A  list  of  the  trained  soldiers  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Ephraim 
Hunt,  Ijcft.,  Ebenezer  White,  Ensigne,  Nath'l  Wales;  Sergeants:  Ben.  Ludin, 
Henry  Prane,  Gideon  Tirrel,  Thomas  Fackson;   Corporals:    Nash,   Palmer, 


4IO 

Bailey,  Chapin;  Soldiers:  Richard  Phillips,  Sam'l  King,  John  Harricks,  John 
Phillips,  Clement  Briggs,  James  Otis,  Sam'l  Dawes,  Sam'l  Pratt,  Richard 
Davinport,  John  Whitmarsh,  Jacob  I^eonard,  Thomas  Hollis,  Joseph  Gooding, 
Thomas  Bolter,  Ephraim  Emerson,  Moses  Guest,  Barnabas  Douglas,  John 
Miller,  Josiah  Owen,  Samuel  Thaire,  Ephraim  Coupland,  Jehosaphat  Crabtree, 
Will  Black,  William  Howard,  John  Pooll,  Isaac  Staple,  John  Staple,  Corne- 
lias Campbell,  Caleb  Littlefield,  John  China,  Samuel  Nightingale,  Joseph 
Penniman,  Joshua  Phillips,  William  Linfield,  Joseph  Drake,  Ebenezer  Owen, 
Edward  Darbie,  Nath'l  Blancher,  Samuel  Bass,  Joseph  Pratt,  John  Wild, 
Isaack  Thaire,  William  Drake,  William  Wells,  John  Joans. 

"  Wee  arrived  in  Cape  pann,  November  the  22;  Several  dyed." 

One  of  the  early  proprietors  of  this  township — Col.  Israel  Williams,  of 
Hathfield,  an  active  leader  in  military  affairs — ^was,  in  1740,  chosen  Proprie- 
Vi  tor's  Clerk,  and  held  the  office  fourteen  years  until  1760.  Fourteen  of  the 
quarto  pages  of  the  book  of  records  of  doings  and  proceedings  at  their  meet- 
ings, stand  written  in  his  clear  and  firm  hand.  And  doubtless  the  families 
of  this  little  border  hamlet  were  to  him  much  indebted  for  their  military  pro- 
tection against  the  relentless  savages  during  the  last  Indian  wars. 

The  tradition,  that  the  settlers  were  absent  from  their  homes  here 
between  two  and  three  years*  from  the  date  of  their  flight,  June  II,  1755, — 
the  day  of  the  Charlemont  massacre — is  not  confirmed  by  further  investi- 
gation, as  will  appear  in  the  following  recital. 

In  August,  1754:  — hostilities  with  the  French  having  again  broken  out — 
>  Gov.  Shirley  placed  Col.  Israel  Williams  in  command  of  all  the  forces  raised, 

and  to  be  raised,  for  the  the  defense  of  Hampshire  County. 

Col.  Williams  writes  to  .Shirley,  September  12:  "It  is  open  war  with 
us,  and  a  dark  and  distressing  scene  opening.  A  merciless  and  miscreant 
enemy  invading  us  from  every  quarter." 

On  the  first  scent  of  blood  the  border  Indians  put  on  the  war-paint,  and 
the  whole  frontier  was  in  danger  from  their  incursions.  The  neighboring 
forts  were  garrisoned,  and  Corporal  Preserved  Clapp,  of  Amherst,  was  sent 
with  ten  men,  as  a  guard,  to  Huntstown,  but  there  was  no  fort  there.  The 
corporal  reports  that  they  ' '  garded  the  inHabitance  until  we  had  a  Desmishon 
from  them." 

1755.  This  was  a  year  of  great  activity,  and  of  disaster  in  the  colonies. 
On  the  9th  of  July,  Gen.  Braddock  was  defeated  at  Fort  Du  Quesne,  from 
from  which  Col.  Geo.  Washington  conducted  the  retreat. 

June  11.  Moses  Rice  and  others  were  killed  at  Charlemont — and  hos- 
tilities continued  throughout  the  year. 

In  March,  175G,  garrisons  were  established  in  the  neighboring  forts,  and 
"^  ^S\  toM'ns.  July  1,  occurred  the  notable  wedding  trip  of  Ebenezer  Smith  and 
Remember  Ellis.  July  8,  Col.  Williams  stationed  a  guard  to  the  families 
there. 

The  spirit  actuating  the  French  commander,  in  conducting  the  war,  is 
indicated  by  the  following  extract  from  Montcalm's  despatches  home,  Sep- 
tember 22:  "I  will,  as  much  as  lies  in  my  power,  keep  up  small  parties  to 
scatter  consternation  and  the  miseries  of  the  war  throughout  the  enemy's 

*R«v.  Dr.  Shepard  ;  page  280. 


4" 

country,"  and  with  the  help  of  his  Indian  allies  well  did  he  succeed  in  that 
purpose. 

"  The  man  of  thought,  and  even  he  of  the  dullest  imagination,  can  pic- 
ture the  daily  life  of  the  pioneer  far  better  from  such  notes  than  it  can  be 
painted  by  the  readiest  pen.  The  parting  each  morning — which  may  be  the 
last — as  the  husbandman  goes  forth  to  sow  or  reap,  that  those  dependent  on 
him  may  have  bread.  A  slow  death  for  them  by  starvation,  or  the  risk  of 
a  swift  one  by  the  bullet  or  tomahawk  for  him,  was  the  only  alternative. 
We  picture  the  slow  hours  of  torturin<^  anxiety  to  the  wife  and  mother,  'til 
night  brought  the  loved  ones  home. " 

During  this  year,  many  were  the  alarms,  conflicts,  deaths  and  captivities 
suffered  throughout  the  valley  and  the  colonies. 

1757.  This  spring  the  various  garrisons  were  renewed;  that  at  Hunts- 
town  with  nine  men,  under  Sergt.  Ebenezer  Belding,  and  for  a  portion  of  the      y 
time,  under  Sergt.  Allen.     There  was  an  active  campaign  during  the  season, 
throughout  the  colonies.      The  British  arms  suffered  general  disaster,  and 

the  greatest  was  the  surrender  of  Fort  \Vm.  Henry,  on  Lake  George,  which 
occurred  August  9,  with  loss  of  great  numbers  of  men  and  munitions  of  war. 
The  season  closed  with  a  great  degree  of  gloom  among  the  colonists. 

1758.  This  year  opened  with  improved  prospects  regarding  the  war,  in 
consequence  of  the  accession  of  the  able  and  intrepid  William  Pitt  to  the 
head  of  affairs  in  the  British  government,  and  the  campaign  was  conducted 
with  much  greater  success. 

Colerain  was  twice  invaded  by  Indians,  by  whom  one  or  two  of  its 
inhabitants  were  killed,  and  several  taken  prisoners.  Himtstofvn  was  this 
year  garrisoned  by  Sergt.  Moses  Wright  with  nine  men. 

The  enemj'  suffered  many  repulses,  which  paved  the  way  to  the  reduc- 
tion of  Quebec  in  the  following  year,  and  soon  after  to  the  conquest  of 
Canada,  and  the  final  close  of  all  Indian  hostilities  in  New  England. 

The  so-called  "bars  fight"  occurred  on  the  Deerfield  Meadows,  June  25,  \  / 
1746.  Several  persons  while  haying  there  were  attacked  by  a  large  party  of  X 
Indians,  and  made  a  stubborn  defence  with  their  guns,  which  they  had  taken 
along.  Five  of  the  men  were  killed,  a  few  escaped,  and  some  were  taken 
prisoners;  among  the  latter  was  the  boy,  Samuel  Allen,  who  was  for  three 
years  held  a  captive  in  Canada.  He  and  John  Sadler,  who  escaped,  were 
afterwards  among  the  most  honored  citizens  of  Ashfield. 

The  following,  residents  of  Huntstown,  or  who  afterwards  became  such, 
were  active  participants  in  those  old  French  and  Indian  wars:     Richard  Ellis,  f^ 
Lieut.   John  Ellis,  Reuben  Ellis,  Moses  Nims,  Asabel  Amsden,  Dea,  John 
Bement,  Robert  Gray,  Nathan  Frary,  Joseph  Mitchell,  Samuel  Belding  and 
Jonathan  Lillie. 

In  March,  1758,  the  Indians  attacked  and  wounded  John  Morrison  and 
John  Henry,  burnt  a  barn,  and  killed  several  cattle,  in  Coleraine.  On  the 
21st  of  March,  1759,  Indians  again  appeared  in  Coleraine,  and  captured  John 
McCown  and  his  wife,  and  the  latter  was  murdered  on  the  second  day's 
march. 

The  population  of  Ashfield  increased  rapidly  upon  cessation  of  hostilities . 
In  1776  it  was  628,  in  1790  it  was  1,460,  and  in  the  year  1810  it  had  risen  to 
the  number  of  1809,  the  largest  census  it  has  had.    The  homes  of  the  original 


+ 


-f 


412 

f  proprietors  were  near  Boston,  but  by  removals  and  sales  of  rights,  by  the 
[  time  this  town  was  settled,  many  persons  in  Hadley,  Deerfield,  and  vicinity 
held  vitles  in  the  township  lands. 

The  first  recorded  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  Huntstown  was  held  at 
Weymouth,  March  13,  1738,  when  Capt.  John  Phillips  was  chosen  moderator, 
and  a  Clerk  and  Treasurer  were  also  chosen.  Measures  were  taken  to  have 
the  granted  lands  surveyed,  divided,  and  settlements  thereon  made,  and  ways 
constructed.  A  committee  for  that  purpose  was  appointed,  consisting  of 
Capt.  Phillips,  Capt.  Cushing,  and  three  others.  Their  report  was  made  in 
the  month  of  July,  1739,  at  a  meeting  held  in  Braintree,  and  the  first  division 
of  lands  there  made  Capt.  John  Phillips  drew  lot  No.  6  for  himself.  He 
drew  No.  13  for  Richard  Phillips,  and  Joshua  Phillips  drew  No.  56  for 
himself.  The  Proprietors'  Records  are  in  my  possession  and  in  pretty  good 
condition.  The  manuscript  covers  over  two  hundred  large  pages,  made  by 
successive  clerks,  of  good  intelligence  and  capacity.  At  the  time  of  their 
services  as  soldiers,  Capt.  Hunt  and  his  men  were  residents  of  Weymouth, 
Braintree,  Stoughton  and  Easton,  towns  situated  near  Boston,  and  contiguous 
to  each  other.  H.  S.  R. 


^ 


t 


TELE   XXLISES  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

The  name  of  Ellts  is  common  in  English  literature  for  several  centuries 
past.  In  early  times  it  was  written  in  various  ways  thus :  Allis,  Allice,  Elis, 
Ellis,  Elles,  Elys,  Ellys,  Ellice,  &c.  In  our  branch  in  this  country,  so  far  as  I 
can  learn,  it  has  uniformly  been  written  JEUishy  themselves,  but  in  several  old 
letters  written  a  century  and  more  ago,  and  addressed  to  Richard  and  John 
Ellis  by  others,  they  were  sometimes  addressed  as  Elis,  Allis  and  Allice. 

Wm.  Smith  Ellis,  an  attorney,  of  London,  England,  has  given  much 
attention  to  the  origin  of  the  EUis  families  of  Great  Britain  from  the  earliest 
times.  His  investigations  extended  over  many  years,  and  have  been  published 
under  the  title  of  "Notices  of  the  EUises  of  England,  Ireland  and  Scotland." 

The  earliest  date  at  which  the  name  is  found  is  A.  D.  815,  in  Wales, 
where  GriflBn,  a  brother  of  the  Ellises,  was  slain.  In  843,  Roderick  the 
Great,  King  of  Wales,  had  a  grandson  named  Elis,  who,  it  is  thought,  was  the 
progenitor  of  the  numerous  family  of  Ellises  in  that  country.* 

A  descendant  of  Roderick,  by  name  of  Gwynnedd,  who  was  king  of 
North  Wales  in  the  twelfth  century,  is  said  to  have  been  the  progenitor  of 
the  Ellises  of  that  section.  The  name  of  EUis  in  Wales  during  several  cen- 
turies was  not  common,  at  least  the  record  of  the  same  is  very  imperfect, 
down  to  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century.  Since  that  time,  as  I  am 
informed,  there  have  been  many  of  them  there.  Of  these  it  is  probable  that 
most  of  the  early  representatives  came  from  England. 

Rev.  John  Ellis  was  bom  in  Wales,  in  16.38.  He  was  an  Episcopal 
minister  in  Dublin,  where  he  died. 

Rev.  James  Ellis,  rector  of  Lelanduroy,  died  about  1596. 

Anthony  Ellis  died  in  Wales  about  1763. 

In  the  later  generations  of  Ellises,  in  Wales,  the  names  of  Richard, 
Edward,  John  and  Benjamin  are  common. 

*In  the  tenth  renturf  the  Christian  names  of  the  fathers  were  taken  hj  the  sons 
as  surnames. 


i 

413 

Wm.  Smith  Ellis  estimates  that  there  are  about  40,000  Ellises  in  Great 
Britain,  of  which  about  2,500  are  in  Wales.  His  "Notices"  contains  the 
names  of  probably  5,000  altogether,  but  a  careful  inspection  does  not  enable 
the  writer  to  trace  Richard  FMis,  of  Ashfield,  Mass.,  back  to  any  definite 
family  there.  In  Alrey,  Wern  and  Pickhill  there  are  Ellis  families  of  great 
antiquity.  Common  names  among  them  were:  Richard,  John,  David, 
Ralph,  Edward  and  Thomas. 

Hugh,  Thomas,  Richard,  Andrew  and  Edward  Ellis  lived  in  Northope, 
Wales,  from  1580  to  1724. 

Richard,  David  (a  clergyman),  Owen,  and  other  Ellises,  lived  in  Body- 
ehan,  Wales  from  1649  to  1788. 

At  Overleigh,  Wales,  was  a  large  family  of  Ellises,  extending  from  1500 
to  1689.     There  were  one  or  more  in  each  generation  named  Matthew. 

In  1884,  John  Ellis  lived* at  Machynlleth,  Wales,  and  Richard  Ellis 
resides  there  now.  The  latter  is  a  grocer  and  in  commercial  business.  His 
father,  John,  was  born  in  1806  and  is  yet  a  strong  and  hearty  man.  Evan,  a 
brother  of  John,  is  now  over  80  years  of  age.  The  father  of  these  aged  men 
was  Richard  Ellis,  and  his  father  was  Evan,  who  lived  in  1720,  and  his  grand- 
father Rees  Ellis,  who  was  born  previous  to  1700.  This  branch  of  EUises 
was  from  Talyllyn  and  Mallwyd,  in  the  County  of  Montgomery,  Wales,  in 
early  times.  Rees  had  seven  sons  and  two  daughters.  Two  of  his  sons  went 
abroad  and  never  returned. 

In  1683  to  1711,  Edward,  George,  James,  Ralph,  Matthew,  and  other 
Ellises,  are  found  in  Yorkshire,  in  1689. 

In  Leinstead,  England,  John  Ellis  and  Mary  Venns  were  married  in 
1673.  Also  William  Ellis  in  1683.  Peter  and  Elizabeth  Ellis  lived  at  the 
same  place  in  1694 . 

In  1689,  John  and  Mary  Ellis  lived  in  Boughton,  England. 

William  and  Stephen  Ellis  lived  at  Lydd  in  1449. 

John  Ellis  and  Mary  Palmer  were  married  in  Wadhurst,  England,  in 
1685. 

Benjamin  Ellis  was  a  churchwarden  in  Lewes,  England,  in  1720. 

In  1697,  Thomas  Ellis  and  Mary  Ayres  were  married  in  Chailley. 

In  1689,  John  Ellis  and  Mary  Culpepper  were  married  in  Wadhurst. 

In  1727,  James  Agar,  son  of  Henry,  married  Lucia  Martin,  and  their 
only  surviving  son,  Henry  Welbore  Agar,  assumed  the  name  of  Ellis,  since 
which  time  that  family  have  retamed  the  name  of  Ellis. 

Benjamin  Ellis,  of  Somerset,  died  in  1758.  His  son,  John,  bom  1754, 
died  in  1803.  The  latter's  son,  Benjamin,  born  1784,  died  in  1844;  leaving 
seven  sons:  Octavius,  Septimus,  George,  Gerard,  Henry,  William  and 
Benjamin. 

In  1734,  John,  Anthony  and  Richard  Ellis  lived  in  Sussex,  England. 
Richard  Ellis  and  Mizabeth  Young  were  married  in  Leeds,  England,  in  1663. 

Henry  and  Annie  Ellis  lived  in  Lydd,  England,  in  1701. 

In  1701,  Edward  Ellis  and  Elizabeth  Gawen  were  married  in  Otham. 
John  ElKs,  Jr.,  and  Elizabethj__^  wife,  lived  in  Otham.  ^       ^ 


V 


f 


X 
/ 


4 


414 

THK  EIXISES  OF  IBELAND. 

Thomas  Ellis  was  Dean  of  Kildare  in  1598.     He  had  one  son,  Alson. 

John  Ellis,  of  Londonderry,  died  in  1754,  leaving  a  son,  Joseph. 

Robert  Ellis,  of  Dublin,  died  in  1746. 

Thomas  Elllis  died  in  Cavan  in  1758.  He  had  two  sons,  Thomas  and 
Humphrey. 

Henry  Ellis  was  sheriff  of  Gal  way  in  1731. 

William  Ellis  was  a  scholar  in  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  in  1711,  and 
Edward  Ellis  also,  in  1713. 

Thomas  Ellis,  of  Athlone,  made  his  will  in  1637.  He  was  from  Wales. 
He  mentions  his  son,  Thomas,  Jr.,  and  his  brothers,  Hugh,  Robert,  Oliver 
and  I^ichard. 

Richard  Ellis,  of  Ireland,  about  1750,  was  ancestor  of  Richard  Ellis, 
M.  D.,  of  Newcastle-on-Tyne  in  1867. 


^ 


THE  EI^I^ISES  OF  ENGLAND. 

Thomas,  Simon  and  Adam  Ellis  are  mentioned  as  early  as  1270  to  1300, 
in  Yorkshire. 

John,  Ralph  and  Richard  Ellis  are  found  there  in  1480. 

Rev.  John  EUia  died  there  in  1493. 

Richard  Ellis  was  married  there  in  1640. 

Matthew  Ellis  was  sheriff  in  that  county  in  1787. 

An  old  and  numerous  family  of  EUises  lived  at  Kiddall  Hall,  in  Yorkshire 
county.  Sir  John  Elys,  of  Kiddall,  died  in  1398.  Robert  Elys  was  his  heir. 
Succssive  members  of  this  family  were:  Thomas,  Henry  "and  William  Elys. 
Then  followed  Richard  EUys,  Rev.  John  Ellis  and  Welbore  Ellis,  who  was  a 
Bishop  in  the  Episcopal  church  in  1705.  The  latter  had  a  sod,  Welbore,  who 
married  Anne  Stanley,  and  they  had  a  daughter,  Anna  Ellis,  born  1707. 

Wm.  Smith  Ellis,  in  the  last  number  of  his  "Notices  of  the  Ellises  of 
Great  Britain,"  issued  in  1881,  states  that  the  Ellis  familv  of  Kiddall  endured 
upwards  of  five  centuries,  and  the  Ellises  of  Stoneacre  nearly  four  centuries. 
His  inquiries  have  been  widely  extended  and  he  arrives  at  the  consoling 
conclusion,  "  that  many  of  the  Ellises  of  the  present  day  may  feel  that — 

They  are  not  of  those  whose  ignoble  blood 

Has  crept  through  scoundrels  ever  since  the  flood." 


OTHER  ELLISES. 


The  name  of  Ellis  is  at  this  day  common  in  England,  Ireland  and  Wales. 
The  first  mention  of  this  family  that  the  writer  finds  is  at  Kiddall  Hall,  in 
the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  England,  and  it  dates  back  to  the  time  of 
the  Norman  Conquest,  (A.  D.,  1055).  In  1503,  John  Ellis  was  sheriff  of 
Yorkshire.  One  of  this  family.  Sir  Thomas  Ellis,  was  six  times  mayor  of 
Doncaster.     He  died  in  1562. 

In  1617,  Bernard  Ellis,  Esq.,  was  recorder  of  York,  and  in  1709  William 
Ellis,  Esq.,  was  high-sheriff  of  Yorkshire. 


415 

In  1606,  John  Ellis  was  born  at  Kiddall  Hall.  He  became  an  Episcopal 
clerjtyman.  He  had  six  sons,  one  of  whom,  John,  bom  1645,  was  collector 
of  revenue  for  King  James  second,  in  Dublin  Ireland,  during  the  years 
1686,  7  and  8.  His  brother,  Phillip,  known  at  Westminister  School  as 
"Jolly  Phil,"  was  when  a  boy  kidnapped,  it  was  said,  by  the  Jesuits,  while 
in  school,  and  became  a  priest.  In  the  "Gentlemen's  Magazine,"  for  1769,  is 
an  article,  headed  "Anecdotes  of  the  Ellis  Family,"  in  which  the  writer  says: 
"that  about  the  year  1730,  there  lived  in  Piccadilly  a  Mr.  Ellis,  [the  above- 
named  -John  Ellis  bom  1645  and  died  in  1738]  the  history  of  whose  family, 
as  related  by  himself,  is  very  remarkable.  Of  his  brother  Philip,  of  whom 
he  had  not  heard  for  many  years,  he  says:  that  being  in  a  coffee-house  one 
day,  he  overheard  an  officer,  who  had  been  in  Flanders,  mention  the  great 
civilities  he  had  received  there  from  a  catholic  priest,  who  was  commonly 
known  as  'Jolly  Phil.'  This  excited  Mr.  Ellis'  curiosity,  and,  on  further 
inquiry,  he  was  induced  to  write  to  the  Bishop  of  Flanders,  when  he  soon 
found  that  the  priest  was  his  brother,  Philip  Ellis.  He  invited  him  over  to 
England,  where  he  remained  for  some  time,  and  was  Confessor  and  in  high 
favor  with  James  second,  until  the  Revolution  of  1688,  when  King  .James 
was  overthrown,  and  the  penal  laws  against  Catholics  being  strictly  enforced 
he  went  to  Rome,  where  he  was  made  a  bishop." 

Welbore  Ellis  (Episcopal)  was  Bishop  of  Meath.  He  died  in  1734. 
None  of  these  brothers  left  children,  and  the  family  is  believed  to  be  extinct, 
unless  Samuel,  who  was  Marshall  of  the  King's  Bench  in  1688,  or  Charles, 
who  became  a  clergyman,  left  children. 


OTHER  ELL.ISES  WHO  WERE  EARL.Y  IN  MASSACHUSETTS. 

The  tirst  Ellis  of  whom  we  find  mention  in  Massachusetts  was  Dr. 
Edward  Ellis,  a  native  of  Wales.  The  year  of  his  arrival  is  not  given,  but  in 
1652  he  married  Sarah  Blott,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Susan  Blott,  of  Boston. 
Dr.  Edward  Ellis  lived  on  the  corner  of  Winder  and  Washington  streets. 
He  died  1695,  aged  74;  his  wife  in  1711.  They  had  ten  children:  Sarah, 
bom  1654;  Anna,  1658,  died  1678;  Lydia,  1661;  Edward,  1663;  Mary,  1666; 
Lydia,  1669;   Robert,  1671;  James,  1674. 

In  the  settlement  of  this  country,  Ellis  is  a  name  early  found  among  the 
pioneers.  Soon  after  the  first  landing  of  pilgrims,  John  Ellis  located  in 
Barnstable  county,  Massachusetts,  and  his  descendants  were  very  numerous 
in  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries.  About  1690,  Samue',  John  and 
Ebenezer  Ellis,  three  brothers,  came  to  Boston  from  Chester,  England. 

Samuel  settled  in  Dedham,  Massachusetts,  and  had  four  sons :  John, 
Samuel,  Xoah  and  Ebenezer.  Dr.  L.  S.  Ellis,  of  Manistee,  Michigan,  is  a 
descendant  of  Samuel,  Jr.  Dr.  Edward  Ellis,  of  Meadville,  Pennsylvania, 
82  years  of  age  and  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession,  is  a  son  of 
Ebenezer.  This  Ebenezer,  about  one  hundred  years  ago,  had  an  interview 
with  Richard  Ellis,  of  Ashfield,  but  they  could  trace  no  relationship.  Doctors 
Rufus,  George,  and  Calvin  Ellis,  noted  men  in  Boston  and  Cambridge  are 
descendants  of  the  Ellises  of  Dedham. 


4t6 

According  to  the  records  of  Middleborough,  Plymouth  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, Joel  Ellis  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  lived  in  that  town  in  1716.  Their 
children  were:  Samuel,  Matthias,  Rebecca,  Charles  and  Thomas.  Of  these: 
Matthias,  born  1720,  had  ten  children:  Joseph,  George,  Cornelius,  Ebenezer, 
Gamaliel,  Daniel,  etc.  Ebenezer  married  Hannah  AV'ood  in  1777  and  they 
had  ten  children,  Zephaniah,  Daniel,  Orren,  Cyrus,  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  etc. 
Ebenezer,  Jr.,  born  in  1797i  married  Mary  D.  Wheeler  and  they  had  four 
children,  two  sons,  James  H.  and  Wm.  W.  Ellis,  etc.  The  last  was  bom  in 
1S38,  and  now  resides  in  Detroit,  Michigan. 

About  1700,  an  Ellis  family  from  Wales  settled  in  Montgomery  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  numerous  posterity  are  found  in  that  and  in  adjoining 
counties  now.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Holstein,  of  Bridgeport,  Pennsylvania,  and  J. 
Alder  Ellis,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  are  of  that  family. 

About  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  Barzillai  Ellis  and  two  brothers  came 
from  England  and  settled  in  Massachusetts.  Barzillai  removed  to  Conway, 
Massachusetts,  and  afterwards  to  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  where  he 
died  about  1830.  He  had  seven  sons,  all  now  dead,  but  they  have  numerous 
descendants  in  western  New  York.  Dr.  David  E.  Ellis  of  Belvidere,  Illinois, 
and  Dr.  Samuel  G.  Ellis,  of  Syracuse,  New  York,  now  72  years  of  age,  are 
grandsons  of  Barzillai  Ellis. 

Early  in  the  history  of  the  colonies,  John,  Amos  and  William  Ellis  came 
from  Wales  to  this  country;  it  is  said  that  they  were  shoe  and  leather  dealers. 
John  settled  at  Boston,  Amos  in  Quebec,  and  William  in  Jamestown,  Vir- 
ginia. Rev.  Dr.  F.  M.  Ellis,  now  of  Tremont  Temple,  Boston,  is  a  descend- 
ant of  William,  who  settled  in  Virginia.  It  is  probable  that  this  last  is  the 
family  which  it  was  intended  Richard  Ellis,  of  Ashiield,  should  find,  when 
he  emigrated  to  this  country,  an  orphan  boy,  in  1717.     See  page  9. 

Thomas  Ellis  came  from  England  soon  after  the  landing  of  the  pilgrims. 
He  settled  in  Medfield,  Massachusetts.  His  son,  Samuel,  had  two  sons, 
named  Samuel  and  Timothy.  The  latter,  Timothy,  settled  in  Med  way  in 
1725.  His  son,  Oliver,  lived  on  the  homestead,  where  he  died  in  1848, 
aged  81  years.  His  son,  Simeon,  died  there  in  1872,  aged  83  years.  The 
latter's  son,  Chester  Ellis,  now  lives  in  Medway,  and  Chester's  sister,  Mrs. 
Mary  Ellis  Jones,  in  Milford,  Massachusetts. 

Judge  Caleb  Ellis,  born  at  Walpole,  Massachusetts,  1767,  died  1816; 
graduated  at  Harvard  1793,  and  practiced  law  at  Claremont,  New  Hampshire, 
was  in  Congress  in  1804. 

Rev.  Rufus  Ellis  was  ordained  in  Northhampton,  Massachusetts,  in 
1843,  where  he  preached  ten  years,  afterwards  in  Boston. 

In  1762,  Mercy  Ellis,  of  Plymouth,  married  John  Bartlett,  and  had  Ellis 
in  1770,  who  m.  Anna  Bartlett  in  1796,  and  had  Ellis,  born  1817,  who  m. 
Sophia  Ashmead,  of  Philadelphia,  and  had  Wm.  Ashmead  Ellis  Bartlett,  in 
1 846,  who  married  Baroness  Burdett  Coutts,  of  England. 

In  the  town  of  Orange,  Franklin  county,  in  1791,  the  town  was  divided 
into  five  school  districts  or  wards.  In  ward  five  were  the  names  of  John, 
Nathan,  Moses  and  Seth  Ellis. 

Rev.  Harmon  Ellis  preached  to  the  Baptist  church  in  Hancock,  Berkshire 
county,  Massachusetts,  in  1849. 


417 

Kev.  Robert  F.  Ellis,  Baptist,  preached  in  Chicope,  Hampden  county, 
Massachusetts,  in  1845. 

Rev.  Geo.  E.  Ellis,  of  Boston,  is  author  of  "Massachusetts  and  its 
Early  History." 

Dr.  Ellis  was  a  physician  in  Ludlow  Massachusetts,  many  years  ago. 
Children  of  Jonathan  Ellis,  of  Vermont:  Hiram  Ellis,  born  about  1800, 
now  dead;  Loreu  Ellis  lives  in  Ohio;  Thomas  Ellis,  dead;  Daniel  Ellis,  born 
1806,  died  in  Kawsonville,  Michigan,  in  1871;  Elijah  Ellis  lives  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  David  Ellis,  dead;  lived  in  Ypsilanti,  Michigan;  John  Ellis,  bom  about 
1812,  now  dead;    and  Mary  Ellis. 

Daniel  was  father  of  Hon.  Myron  H.  EUis,  aged  45,  of  New  Boston, 
Michigan,  late  member  of  the  Michigan  Legislature. 

Mrs.  J.  S.  Jenness,  of  Ypsilanti,  is  a  daughter  of  Elijah  Ellis,  of  Cleveland. 

Barzillai  Ellis  lived  in  Conway,  Massachusetts,  next  town  east  of  Ashfield, 
a  century  ago.  He  removed  with  his  large  family  to  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  where  he  died  in  1827.  His  children  were:  Barzillai,  Jr.,  died 
1854;  Asa,  d.  1857;  Freeman,  d.  1842;  Benjamin,  d.  1855;  Joel,  d.  1852; 
Elnathan,  d.  1854;  Samuel,  d.  1856,  in  Chicago. 

Barzillai  Ellis,  Jr.'s  children:  Louisa,  m.  Gerry  Smith;  Samuel,  was  a 
physician  in  Syracuse,  New  York;  David,  a  physician  in  Belvidere,  near  Chi- 
cago, and  Elisha . 

Asa  Ellis'  children:  Mary,  m.  Williaton  Phillips;  Asa,  Jr.;  Levi;  Cla- 
rissa, m.  a  Goulding;  Lucy,  m.  a  Bailey;  Franklin,  m.  a  Smith;  and  Sally,  m. 
a  Crawford.  / 

Freeman  Ellis'  children:  Barzillai,  Freeman,  Lyman,  Lucius,  Livenue^ 
lives  at  Laoni,  New  York;  Lewis,  Polly,  Lydia  and  Rachel. 

Benjamin  Ellis'  children:  Permelia,  Eleanor,  Jane,  Sophia,  Mason, 
Datus,  .Joel  and  Ensign . 

Asa  EUis,  born  1804,  in  Smyrna,  Chenango  county.  New  York,  now  lives 
in  DeRuyter,  New  York.  His  father,  Joel,  was  born  in  Conway,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1775.  Joel  was  a  son  of  Barzillai  and  Sarah  (Tobey)  Ellis.  Bar- 
zilliai  was  bom  June  9,  1747,  and  his  wife  June  5,  1755;  married  March  6, 
1773.  This  family  lived  in  Conway,  Massachusetts,  and  later  in  Chautauqua 
Co.,  New  York.     Joel  Ellis  died  in  Madison  Co.,  New  York,  about  1852. 

Thomas,  Samuel  and  Timothy  Ellis  lived  in  Medway,  Massachusetts, 
in  the  middle  and  later  part  of  the  last  century.  Chester  Ellis  died  there 
in  1872,  aged  83  years.  His  father,  Oliver,  died  there  in  1848  aged 
81  years.  He  was  a  son  of  Timothy,  Jr.,  son  of  Samuel,  and  great 
grandson  of  Thomas.  All  the  EUiscs  are  now  gone  from  that  town, 
except  Chester  Ellis.  John  and  Caleb  Ellis,  aged  men,  now  live  in  Medfield, 
Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Mary  Ellis  Jones,  sister  of  Chester  Ellis,  now  lives  at 
Milford,  Massachusetts. 

John  W.  Ellis,  a  leading  capitalist  and  banker  of  New  York  city,  resides 
at  20  W.  57th  street.  His  wife  is  a  lady  of  unusual  intelligence.  She  has 
given  much  attention  to  the  genealogy  of  some  of  the  New  England  EUises, 
as  well  of  those  of  Great  Britian,  and  has  favored  the  writer  with  several 
volumes  mentioning  these  families.  Mr.  Ellis  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  John 
Ellis,  Jr.,  who  m.  Elizabeth  Freeman  in  1644.  He  was  a  surveyor  in 
Sandwich,  Barnstable  county,  Massachusetts.     Their  chUdren  were:    Bennet, 


4i8 

Mordecai,  Joel,  Matthias,  and  John,  Jr.  Mordecai,  bom  1(550,  m.  1671,  d. 
1715.  Hia  children  were:  John,  Samuel,  Josiah,  William,  Mordecai,  Jr., 
Benjamin,  Sarah,  Eleanor,  Mary  and  Rebecca.  Joaiah  m.,  1712,  Sarah  Black- 
well;  children:  Josiah,  Jr.,  Deborah,  Stephen,  Elizabeth,  Benjamin,  Philip, 
Micah  and  Sarah.  Ttenjamin,  son  of  Josiah,  bom  1721,  d.  1806,  m.  Elizabeth 
Tapper  in  1745.  Their  children:  Susan,  born  1746;  Philip,  1750;  Sally, 
1752;  Micah,  1754,  Mordecai,  1759;  Jesse,  Elizabeth  and  Polly.  Philip,  b. 
1750,  m.  an  Alden;  Micah,  b.  1754,  m.  Mary  T.  Copeland  in  1780;  she  was 
b.  1762  and  died  1812.  Their  children:  Tryphena,  b.  1781;  Benjamin,  b. 
1786;  d.  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  1862;  m.  Sallie  Tweed  in  Ohio,  February, 
1815;  she  died  in  1826.  Their  children:  Mary,  b.  December,  1815;  John 
Washington,  b.  August  15,  1817,  and  Townaend,  1821.  Mr.  John  W.  Ellis 
has  one  son,  Ralph  N.,  b.  March  12,  1858. 

Henry  D.  Ellis,  of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  has  devoted  Jmuch  time 
and  labor  to  collecting  Ellis  genealogies.  He  is  of  the  Alden-Ellises,  a 
grandson  of  Josiah,  above.  It  is  hoped  that  he  will  have  his  researches  in 
the  Ellis'  genealogy  published. 

John  French  Ellis,  of  the  vStoneacre  family  of  Ellises,  was  bom  in 
England  in  1776;  came  to  America  in  1795;  m.  Maria,  dau.  of  Wm.  Willcocks, 
field  officer  in  the  Continental  army.  He  had  four  sons:  William,  d.  in 
infancy;  Henry  A  ,  d.  unmarried;  John  French,  d.,  leaving  no  male  issue; 
and  Samuel  Corp.  The  latter  m.  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Aug.  C.  Van  Horn  and 
Margaret  Livingston,  of  the  Livingston  Manor,  and  had  five  sons:  Gen. 
Aug.  V.  H.  Ellis,  who  died  without  issue;  John  Stoneacre,  having  one  son; 
Col.  Henry  A.,  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  died  without  male  issue;  Maj.  Julius 
Livingston,  died  unmarried;  and  Samuel  Claudius  Ellis,  unmarried.  The 
latter  lives  at  121  Madison  Avenue,  New  York  city. 

Their  were  several  Ellises  in  Dedham,  Massachusetts;  settled  as  early  as 
1643.  Richard  Ellis,  a  fine  penman,  whose  signature  is  on  record.  Also  a 
John  Ellis,  at  about  the  same  date,  lived  near  Richard,  could  not  write — 
makes  his  "mark"  when  signing  documents.  R.  Ellis  married  Elizabeth 
French,  1650;  he  was  born  1621,  or  2.  She  was  also  born  in  England.  John 
Ellis,  of  Dedham,  married,  in  1641,  Susan  Lombard  or  Lambart. 
Ann  Ellis,  of  Dedham,  married  Edwin  Colver,  1638. 
An  early  settler  of  Salem  was  named  Thos.  Ellis.  Another  was  Christo- 
pher Ellis. 

Mary  Ellis,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  nearly  related  to  Edward  Giblons, 
who  married  Samuel  Scarlett,  in  the  town  of  Kersey,  County  Suffold,  Eng- 
land, previous  to  1657. 

Freeman  Ellis'  will,  St.  James  Clerkenwell,  proved  at  Doctor's  Commons, 
October  2,  1664. 

E.  R.  Ellis,  a  young  man,  with  his  brother,  Richard  A,,  and  another 
brother,  a  sister  and  mother,  have  recently  located  2,000  acres  of  land  on 
Big  Sandy  creek,  about  twelve  miles  north-east  of  Lamar,  Bent  county, 
Colorado.  They  were  from  Georgia.  Wm.  A.  Ellis,  (455)  late  of  Ashtabula, 
Ohio,  has  settled  on  a  farm  near  these  Ellises. 

William  J.  Ellis,  born  in  Wales,  1837,  now  lives  in  Anbum,  New  York. 
There  are  many  Ellises  along  the  Ohio  river,  of  Welsh  stock.     Ellis  Ellis 


419 

«ame  to  this  country  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century.  His  son,  William, 
left  the  homestead,  near  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  and  went  to  Kentucky. 

William  Ellis  had  three  sons:  Elias,  Amos  and  Isaac,  who  were  then 
young  men — Elias  having  a  wife  and  two  children.  Slavery  was  repugnant 
to  the  family,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  safe  to  risk  the  Indians,  they  crossed  from 
Maysville,  Kentucky,  to  Ohio.  William  and  his  sons,  Amos  and  Isaac,  settling 
in  1795,  in  Brown  county,  and  Elias,  in  Muskingum  county.  There  was 
another  large  family,  also  of  Welsh  descent,  who  settled  in  Adams  and 
Brown,  about  the  same  time;  and  still  another  who  settled  in  the  river 
counties,  on  the  Kentucky  side  of  the  Ohio.  The  family  names  were:  Abram, 
James,  John,  Nathan,  Samuel,  Noah,  etc.  Col.  Elias  Ellis,  who  for  many 
years  represented  Muskingum  county,  and  Amos  Ellis,  of  Woodford  county, 
Illinois,  are  the  only  living  children  of  the  pioneers,  and  they  are  now  very 
old  men. 

Mr.  E.  C.  Ellis,  grandson  of  Isaac,  above,  lives  at  EUiston  Station, 
Ohio,  on  the  C,  H.  &  D.  Railroad.  The  place  was  named  for  John  W.  Ellis, 
Esq.,  of  New  York  City,  a  Vice-President  of  the  road. 

Orville  N.  Ellis,  of  Kankakee,  Illinois,  and  Anderson  N.  Ellis,  of  Ham- 
ilton, Ohio,  are  both  physicians  of  note. 

Seth  Ellis,  a  farmer  of  prominence,  residing  near  Springboro,  Warren 
county,  Ohio.  He  was  for  four  years  Master  of  the  State  Grange  of  Ohio,  and 
is  something  of  a  local  preacher  in  the  M.  E.  Church. 

A  few  years  ago,  there  was  also  a  family  of  the  name  living  at  Cedarville, 
Oreen  county,  Ohio,  who  were  Methodists.  One  or  two  of  the  young  men 
became  preachers. 

There  was  a  John  Ellis,  a  preache^  in  the  Christian  Church,  who  resided 
several  years  in  Dayton,  Ohio.  He  was  a  New  Yorker — now  preaching  in 
California. 

There  is  an  Ellis  family  in  Cincinnati,  from  Massachusetts.  They  are 
mostly  bankers,  and  Unitarians  in  religion. 

W.  R.  Ellis,  Esq.,  is  a  prominent  lawyer  at  Heppner,  Oregon.  His 
father,  James,  bom  in  Kentucky,  about  1823,  died  in  Montgomery  county, 
Indiana,  1851.  His  grandfather,  Thomas,  lived  near  Shelbyville,  Kentucky, 
and  was  formerly  from  Virginia.  H.  C.  Ellis,  son  of  Thomas,  lives  at  Ross- 
ville,  Illinois. 

Mr.  W.  D.  Ellis,  inventor  of  an  automatic  gate,  lives  at  Blaine,  Illinois. 
His  father,  William,  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1812,  and  a  brother, 
James,  lives  at  Marinette,  Wisconsin.  Jackson  Ellis  lives  in  Beloit,  Wis- 
consin, and  a  Dr.  Ellis  at  Rockport,  Illinois. 

Gideon  Ellis,  born  in  Massachusetts,  died  in  Randolph,  Vermont,  about 
fifty  years  ago,  aged  nearly  100  years.  His  children  were:  Calvin,  Elijah, 
Josiah,  Bethuel,  Asa  and  Gideon.  The  last-named  died  in  1861,  aged  90 
years;  had  nine  children,  H.  G.  Ellis,  of  Roxbury,  Vermont,  and  B.  W. 
Ellis,  a  lawyer,  of  Chicago,  are  his  grandsons. 

Rev.  Luther  Ellis  is  an  aged  clergyman,  of  Waterloo,  Iowa. 

James  Fulton  Ellis  lives  at  Marinette,  Wisconsin.  He  has  brothers, 
William  A.,  at  Peshtigo;  Robert  and  Oakman  A.,  at  Oconto;  and  Charles  J., 
at  Marinette.  Their  father,  William,  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Ellis,  born 
in  Franklin,  Connecticut,  1762;   m.  Mary,  dau.  of  Robert  Fulton,  of  Top- 


420 

sham,  Maine.  She  died  in  I860,  aged  91  years.  Jonathan  was  a  son  of 
Rev.  John  Ellis,  born  in  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  in  1727 — Chaplain  in  the 
Revolutionary  armj; — died  at  Norwich,  Connecticut,  1805.  He  was  a  son  of 
Caleb  £llis,  who  came  from  England,  and  lived  in  Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 

Samuel  Ellis  was  an  early  settler  in  Dedham,  Mass^ichusetts.  His  chil- 
dren were  John,  Noah,  Ebenezer  and  Amelia.  He  went  to  Norwich,  Hamp- 
shire Co.,  Mass.,  in  early  times,  and  where  he  died  about  1825,  a  very  aged 
man.  He  had  three  brothers,  two  of  whom  died  in  the  French  and  Indian 
war.  His  son,  Ebenezer,  lived  in  Chester  and  Norwich,  Massachusetts, 
where  his  children,  Samuel,  Edward,  Hylas,  Ebenezer  H.,  Harriet  and 
Christa,  were  born.  Samuel,  born  in  1802,  died  in  Cummington,  Mass.,  In 
1875.  Dr.  Edward  Ellis,  of  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  bom  1804,  d.  1886, 
was  the  second  son  of  Ebenezer.  Samuel,  born  1802,  was  the  father  of 
Dr.  L.  Stiles  Ellis,  of  Manistee,  Michigan,  and  Miss  Elvira  Ruth  EUis, 
of  324  E.  27th  st..  New  York  City.  Miss  Ellis  is  a  noted  teacher.  Dr.  E., 
of  Manistee,  is  a  prominent  physician  and  widely  noted  temperance  advocate. 

Moses  Ellis,  born  about  1766,  came  to  East  Barnard,  Vermont,  from 
Walpole,  Massachusetts.  His  brothers  were:  Joseph,  Daniel,  Aaron  and 
Jesse.  Moses  had  two  sons,  Clark  and  Enoch.  Clark  was  born  1795,  died 
1862.  Enoch,  born  1804,  died  1879,  leaving  four  sons.  Joel  C,  only  son  of 
Clark,  was  born  1816  and  now  lives  in  East  Barnard.  Aaron  lived  in  Wal- 
pole, and  had  five  sons:  James,  Charles,  Oliver,  Caleb  and  Albert.  Jesse 
had  two  sons,  Joseph  and  Jesse,  Jr. 

Thomas  J.  Ellis,  of  Covington,  Ky.,  was  born  1836;  his  father,  James, 
bom  1802,  in  Virginia;  his  grandfather,  William,  was  born  in  Virginia  about 
1764,  died  in  Kentucky,  at  81  years  of  age.  Russell  B.  Ellis,  son  of  William, 
now  lives  in  Kokomo,  Ind.,  over  70  years  of  age;  the  last  of  eight  children. 

Amos  Ellis  lives  in  Williamsburg,  and  his  brothers,  Nelson  and  Alonzo, 
in  Ripley,  Ohio. 

Hon.  Lorenzo  EUis  lives  at  EUiston,  Ohio;  he  is  in  the  stave  and  store 
business;  he  was  born  in  Walpole,  Mass.,  in  1834;  has  a  son,  William  D.,  b. 
1860.  Billings  Ellis,  elder  brother  of  Lorenzo,  lives  at  Walpole,  Mass. 
Lorenzo  Ellis  has  been  a  member  of  the  Ohio  legislature  two  terms. 

Mr.  A.  D.  Ellis  is  a  prominent  resident  of  Owego,  N.  Y. 

N.  J.  EUis  is  a  farmer,  lives  near  Springfield,  Mich.  His  father,  Benj. 
A.,  lived  in  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.  Harry,  a  cousin  of  Benj.  A.,  a  very  aged 
man,  lives  in  Victor,  N.  Y.,  as  does  his  son,  BoUvar  EUis. 

Benj.  Ellis,  son  of  John,  Uves  in  FreevUle,  N.  Y.  His  grandfather, 
John,  Sr.,  had  brothers,  Peleg,  Arnold  and  Oliver. 

Rev.  Charles  D.  EUis  is  a  Presbyterian  clergyman  at  Saginaw,  Mich. 

Hon.  J.  V.  EUis,  of  St.  John,  N.  B.,  member  of  the  Canadian  parliament 
1887,  declared  himself  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Canada  to  the  United 
States. 

Richard  Allis,  or  EUis,  was  a  passenger  in  the  ship  Lion,  June  22,  1632, 
for  New  England.  (New  England,  at  an  early  date,  was  often  designated  as 
Virginia. ) 

Mrs.  Mary  ElUs  Durkee,  bom  1798,  lives  with  her  son-in-law,  T.  J. 
Potter,  at  Fort  E<iward,  N.  Y.  Her  father,  John,  bom  1759,  died  1826. 
Her  grandfather,  John,  Sr.,  died  in  Montreal,  in  1770,  aged  79  years.     James 


421 

Ellis,  of  Plymouth,  Ohio,  is  a  nephew  of  Mrs.  Durkee,  Benson  EUia  lives 
«t  Greenwich,  Ohio. 

David  F.  Ellis,  born  in  Wales  in  1841,  a  printer,  lives  at  Utica,  N.  Y. 
His  father,  Ellis  Ellis,  lives  at  Deerfield,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  a  farm,  with 
his  son,  Hugh  M.  They  all  came  from  Wales,  about  1848.  Hugh  was  four 
years  in  the  Union  army. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Ellis,  of  New  Castle,  Ind.,  is  of  the  Carolina  Ellises.  His 
grandfather,  John,  and  two  brothers  were  from  Scotland. 

James  M.  Ellis,  born  1810,  lives  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  a  banker.  His 
father.  Gen.  John  Ellis,  was  born  in  Hebron,  Conn.,  1764.  His  parents  were 
John,  Sr.,  and  Elizabeth  (Sawyer)  Ellis. 

M.  E.  Ellis,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  was  born  1852.  His  father,  Geo.  Eiley 
Ellis,  was  born  in  Henrietta,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  grandfather  Guerdon  and 
great-grandfather  William  Ellis  were  from  Norwich,  Conn. 

Mr.  William  P.  Ellis  lives  in  Washington  City,  Ind,,  of  which  he  is 
mayor.  His  father,  William,  born  1802,  died  1883;  was  from  North  Carolina, 
and  was  the  youngest  of  his  father's  family;  his  brothers  were  John  and 
David,  all  sons  of  William,  Sr. 

Mr.  H.  Z.  Ellis,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa  ,  is  agent  for  the  Ellis  Family  of 
Professional  Vocalists.  He  was  born  1824,  at  Plymouth,  V^t.  He  has  Ellis 
uncles,  Caleb,  Ebenezer  and  Warren,  at  Newton  Center,  Mass.  His  children 
— the  vocalists— are  Misses  Romie  M.,  Fanny  May,  Gracie  Marie,  and  Messrs. 
Frank  H.  and  Fred.  S.  Ellis.  Their  summer  residence  is  at  York  Beach, 
Maine. 

Dr.  Edwin  Ellis  has  a  drug  store  at  Ashland,  Wis.  He  was  born  in 
Maine  in  1824.  His  father,  John,  born  1798,  died  in  California  in  1871,  had 
brothers,  Ebenezer,  Gideon,  Jonathan  and  Scott. 

Elias  Ellis,  born  1805,  in  Ohio;  lives  at  Ellis,  Muskingum 'Co.,  Ohio. 
He  is  a  farmer.  His  great-grandfather,  Ellis  Ellis,  was  a  Welshman;  came 
to  America  early  in  1700;  his  grandfather,  William,  died  1813,  in  Ohio;  his 
father,  Elias,  died  1833. 

Mr.  A.  N.  Ellis,  of  Austin,  Minn.,  was  born  at  Potsdam,  N.  Y.,  1834. 
He  is  in  the  farming  and  cattle  business.  His  father,  Freeman  EUis,  was 
born  at  Yarmouth,  Mass.,  in  1790.  His  grandfather,  Isaac,  lived  in  Yar- 
mouth, and  afterwards  in  Springfield,  Vt.  Great-grandfather,  Joseph,  and 
the  latter's  father,  Joshua  Ellis,  were  from  Cape  Cod,  Mass. 

Dr.  Richard  W.  Ellis  is  a  druggist  at  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

Jehu  Green  Ellis  lives  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.  His  father,  Richard,  is  English, 
born  1830;  died  1872. 

Ernest  Spencer  Ellis,  born  1858,  in  Vermont ville,  Mich.,  is  a  lawyer  at 
Kalkaska,  Mich.  His  father,  Elmer  Eugene  was^born  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Grandfather,  Harvey,  and  great  grandfather,  Gideon  Ellis,  all  resided  in 
Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.     Elmer  Eugene  Ellis  now  lives  in  Charlotte,  Mich. 

Mr.  W.  C.  Ellis  lives  at  North's  Landing,  Ind.  His  father  was  John,  of 
Galhoun,  Ga.,  a  son  of  Stephen  Ellis,  of  South  Carolina,  of  Scotch  descent. 

Burwell  P.,  Carlos  W.,  Charles,  Geo.  W.,  Luther  P.,  Mortimer  M.  and 
Caroline  S.  Ellis  live  in  Richmond,  Va. 

Dr.  C.  F.  Ellis  is  a  physician  at  Ligonier,  Ind. 

Noah,  John,  James   and    Joseph   Ellis  were   coopers,    and    lived  near 


422 

Newburg,  and  later  near  Ooshen,  N.  Y.  Noah  m.  Hannah  Carpenter;  bom 
1786;  had  seven  children:  Lydia,  Samuel,  Lewis,  Susan,  Harriet,  William 
and  Ira.  James  Ellis  had  four  children:  John,  William,  Walter  and  Eliza. 
Noah  Ellis  died  about  1840.  Ira,  son  of  Noah,  had  several  children;  one  of 
whom,  George  A.  Ellis,  lives  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  has  been  book-keeper 
and  local  manager  for  Leonard  &  Ellis— see  page  259 — for  twelve  to  fifteen 
years.     He  has  a  younger  brother  in  the  same  ofhce. 

J.  M.  EUis,  Esq.,  is  a  lawyer,  of  Denver,  Col.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  and  was  of  Welsh  descent,  and  a  brother  of  Geo.  R.  Ellis, 
of  Pontotoc,  Miss. 

Robert  Ellis  is  a  resident  of  Pompey,  N.  Y.  His  grandfather,  Robert, 
had  six  sons:  Clark,  Samuel,  Hiram,  Elias,  John  and  Pierce;  bom  in  or  near 
Amsterdam,  N.  Y.     William  B.  Ellis,  son  of  Clark,  lives  at  Greenwich,  Ohio. 

Mr.  W.  R.  Ellis  lives  at  Goshen,  Ind.  His  father  was  Erastus  W.  H., 
bom  1815,  and  grandfather,  William  R.,  born  in  Windham,  Conn.,  in  1784; 
great-grandfather,  Ezekiel  Ellis,  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Daniel  Ellis,  from  North  Carolina,  settled  in  Indiana  about  1810.  His 
children  were:  Levi,  Jesse,  James,  Marvin,  John,  Willam,  Mary  Elizabeth, 
Margaret  and  Sarah.  Marvin,  born  1821,  has  a  son,  0.  W.  Ellis,  bom  1845, 
at  Dubois,  Ind. 

J.  A.  Ellis.  Chicago,  111.,  is  a  commission  merchant.  He  has  a  sister, 
Mrs.  William  H.  Holstein,  Bridgeport,  Pa.  Their  grandfather,  Wm.  Ellis, 
lived  in  Muncie,  Penn.  His  son,  William  Cox  Ellis,  father  of  J.  A.,  was  a 
lawyer  and  Congressman  and  widely  noted  for  talent  and  benevolence. 

The  Ellises  of  this  country  number  many  thousands,  some  of  whom 
descended  from  AVelsh,  English  and  Scotch  ancestors,  who  came  here  soon 
after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  in  1620. 

In  1883,  Wm.  T.  Davis,  of  Plymouth,  Mass.,  published  a  volume  entitled 
/\  "Genealogical  Register  of  Plymouth  Families  and  Ancient  Landmarks  of 
Plymouth."  Mr.  Davis  had  made  extensive  researches  and  his  book  contains 
the  names  of  nearly  three  hundred  Ellises. 


PERSONAL  LKTTKBS  AND  DOCUMENTS. 

It  is  usual  in  books  of  the  nature  of  this  to  include  some  family  letters 
and  documents,  for  the  purpose  of  revealing  to  the  later  generations  some- 
what of  the  trials  and  experiences  of  those  who  have  gone  before.  With 
those  here  given  is  revealed  much  of  the  personal  traits  of  the  writers  and 
the  motives  by  which  they  were  actuated,  as  well  as  the  struggles  which 
they  cheerfully  and  nobly  made  to  overcome  the  obstacles  of  their  often 
unpropitious  surroundings.  Considerable  of  historical  interest  is  also  to  be 
found  in  these  communications.  Many  of  these  people  were  pioneers  in  the 
then  wilderness  regions  of  country  which,  in  order  to  develop  and  make  for 
themselves  and  their  posterity  desirable  homes,  required  a  degree  of  heroism 
which  we  now  can  scarcely  appreciate.  So  far  as  we  can  ascertain  they  were 
all  people  of  integrity  and  virtue,  with  just  and  pure  ambitions  and  filled 
well  the  duties  of  their  station.  Few  of  them  attained  much  of  worldly 
wealth,  the  standard  of  success  which  is  now  so  generally  recognized,  and  yet 


423 

we,  in  this  day,  have  an  instinctive  feeling  that  no  one  makes  a  failure  of 
life,  if  in  all  his  life-work  he  keeps  his  affections  pure  and  tender,  his  head 
clear  and  his  heart  right.  In  this  respect  our  progenitors  have  given  us 
examples  worthy  of  imitation  and  are  entitled  to  our  gratitude  and  veneration. 

The  following  letter  was  written  in  June,  1804,  by  Mrs.  Samuel  Annabie 
to  her  daughter  Polly  (or  Molly)  Ellis,  wife  of  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis,  of  Ashfield. 
Bethiah,  whose  name  is  found  at  the  close  of  the  letter  was  Mrs.  Annable's 
youngest  daughter.  See  page  365.  The  numbers  in  brackets  thus  [  ]  refer 
to  corrresponding  numbers  in  the  main  part  of  the  book. 

Sempronius,  N.  Y. 
To  Molly  Ellis,  Ashfield,  Mass. : 

These  lines  come  to  let  you  know  that  we  are  all  well.  I  think  I  am 
better  than  when  I  lived  in  Ashfield.  Your  father  also  has  his  health  I 
think  very  remarkably.  David  [see  page  368]  and  family  are  well.  We 
heard  you  were  coming  up  this  fall.  I  suppose  you  and  your  child  are  well, 
but,  oh!  remember,  we  are  liable  every  day  to  sickness  and  death;  and  do, 
Molly,  let  us  strive  to  be  prepared  to  change  worlds,  it  will  soon  come;  and 
do  let  us  strive  to  live  in  love  with  God  and  set  our  affections  on  things 
above,  so  that  we  may  live  happy  and  die  happy.     When  you  see  Hannah  H., 

ytell  her  that  Irene  [probably  34]  does  not  forget  her — wants  her  to  live  so    Nl. 
that  she  may  be  happy  with  Christ  to  all  eternity.     Your  uncle,  Thomas,     ' 
[see  page  366]  seemed  to  live  this  world  purely.      He  told   me,  often,  he 
prayed  all  the  time.     I  take  much  satisfaction  in  Moses  [probably  her  grand- 
son, Moses  Bartlet]  and  his  wife.     I  bid  you  all  farewell. 

DESIRE  ANNABLE. 
Remember  my  love  to  all  my  neighbors,  one  and  all,  and  all  my  friends. 
Give  our  love  to  Mr.  Lyon  and  wife. 

To  Samuel  and  Rebecca  :    [See  page  367.] 

We  heard  from  you  by  Mr.  Belding.  You  were  all  well  then  and  I  hope 
these  lines  will  find  you  well.  I  heard  you  had  three  children  to  take  care  . 
of;  do  t-eaoh  them  the  fear  of  the  Lord  as  well  as  to  take  care  of  their  bodies,  y 
I  want  you  to  write  to  us  about  Edward  [probably  39]  and  his  family.  Rufus 
Johnson's  wife  has  got  a  son.  Mrs.  Forbush  [71]  has  a  daughter.  She 
names  it  Elizabeth  Mindwell,  [born  June  13,  1804.]  Jonathan  Ellis  [26]  and 
his  family  are  well.  I  want  you  to  write  concerning  Abigail  B3lding,  whether 
she  was  willing  to  die.  Give  my  love  to  Sylvia  [75.]  I  went  to  quarterly 
meeting  last  winter.  A  solemn  assembly  met  together.  Mr.  Savage  has 
bought  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  our  house.  Give  my  love  to  Hannah 
Williams  [63.]  BETHIAH. 

Letter  from  E  Iward  Ellis  [70]  to  his  father,  Lieut.  John  Ellis,  of  Ash- 
field. No  date  is  given,  but  it  must  have  been  written  probably  in  June, 
1799  or  1800. 

Honored  Paee.sts  :  Sempronius,  N.  Y. 

I  now  take  my  pen  in  hand  to  inform  you  of  the  welfare  of  my  family. 
Amanda  is  sick  and  has  been  under  the  doctor's  care  for  some  time. 
Although  she  is  some  better,  the  doctor  thinks  she  will  not  be  able  to  do 


424 

much  this  summer.  It  is  a  general  time  of  health  here:  our  friends  are  all 
well.  My  cousin,  Banjamin  Ellis,  has  bought  him  a  farm,  about  a  mile  from 
here.  Peleg  Standish  lives  with  me  this  summer,  and  has  bought  land 
adjoining  Mr.  Ellis  and  Mr.  Stafford,  and  now  thera  is  a  lot  to  be  sold  a  mile 
west  of  him.  I  think  it  is  as  handsome  land  as  ever  I  saw.  There  is  a  great 
deal  of  valuable  timber  on  it  and  is  well  waiered  by  a  number  of  very  fine 
springs.  It  is  number  33  and  is  owned  by  one,  Major  Xewkirk.  I  have 
been  informed,  by  men  who  have  seen  him,  that  it  may  be  had  very  reason- 
ably— for  two  dollars  if  paid  down  or  twenty  shillings  if  paid  one-third  down. 
Major  Ledyard  says  it  is  as  good  a  title  as  any  in  the  country.  Maj.  New- 
kirk  lives  on  the  Mohawk  river,  at  Palatine  Church,  and  if  there  is  anyone 
coming  from  Ashtield  into  this  country  they  can  call  and  see  Xewkirk.  That 
land  is  worth  four  dollars  an  acre,  and  I  should  be  glad  to  buy  one  hundred 
acres  myself.  Crops  look  promising.  The  distance  is  so  preat  that  we  can 
seldom  see  each  other,  but  I  mean  to  come  to  Ashfield  as  soon  as  J  can,  but 
I  get  little  time  and  I  do  not  know  what  will  happen.  I  am  haying  and  in 
a  hurry  and  must  close  my  letter,  hoping  these  lines  will  find  you  all  enjoying 
the  blessing  of  health.     Give  my  love  to  all  inquiring  friends. 

From  your  son,  EDWARD  ELLIS. 

Letter  from  Dimick  Ellis,  of  Ashfield,  to  Barnabas  Annable  of  Sem- 
pronius,  N.  Y. 

Dear  Sir  :  Ashfield,  Mass.,  May  12,  1802. 

The  note  that  you  left  in  my  care,  against  Ezra  Williams,  I  have  received 
the  contents  of,  except  seventy-three  dollars.  I  have  taken  up  the  orders 
as  you  directed  and  have  paid  Dr.  Dickinson,  Dr.  Smith  and  Thomas  White 
some  money,  in  settlement  of  their  accounts.  I  did  not  take  my  pay  for  my 
note  that  I  hold  against  you,  as  I  did  not  stand  in  need  of  it,  but  will  send 
you  the  note  and  take  my  pay  of  Williams,  when  he  pays  the  balance  due 
you.  I  am  well  at  present  and  Polly  also.  Our  child  is  sick,  but  I  think  he 
is  getting  some  better  now.  I  hope  these  lines  will  find  you  well.  Give  our 
love  to  father  and  mother  Annable  and  \o  all  inquiring  friends,  etc. 

DIMICK  ELLIS. 

P.  S.  Please  write  to  me  by  the  bearer  of  this  and  send  receipt  for  the 
money  I  send  you. 

Sempbonids,  June  2,  1802. 

This  day  received  by  the  hand  of  Lieut.  John  Ellis,  $309.45  in  full  of 
this  bUl.  BARNABAS  ANNABLE. 

Letter  from  Barnabas  and  his  wife,  Rath  (Moon)  Annable,  to  Dea. 
Dimick  Ellis  and  wife. 

Sbmpronius,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  26,  1806. 

Dear  Sister:  I  am  now  quite  sick.  I  have  not  been  so  well  the  last  two 
years  as  I  was  the  two  first  years  after  we  came  into  this  country.  Dear  Sister: 
The  Lord,  in  his  providence,  has  been  pleased  to  visit  this  family  with  the  stroke 
of  death.  Our  brother  Samuel  is  gone  and  left  us  here  to  mourn,  but  not 
as  those  without  hope.  [See  page  367.]  You  desired  us  to  write  the  par- 
ticulars of  his  death.  He  was  sick  about  two  months,  he  got  better  twice 
when  he  ha<l  the  third  relapse.     David  [his  brother,  see  page  368]  told  him 


425 

he  must  certainly  die.     He  said  they  must  send  for  his  brother  Barnabas,  to 

pray  with  him,  for,  said  he,  I  must  certainly  go  to if  I  die  in  my  present 

situation.  Barnabas  went  and  stayed  with  him  until  the  day  of  his  death, 
all  the  time  of  which  he  appeared  in  bitter  agony  of  soul,  pleading  for  salva- 
tion, until  about  three  days  before  he  died,  when  he  revived  and  said  he  had 
been  in  perfect  readiness  for  three  days. 

Rutli  failing,  I  take  the  pen  to  finish  her  letter.  He  readily  confessed 
that  he  had  many  hard  thoughts  of  me  for  spending  so  much  time  in  preach- 
ing, but  now,  said  he,  I  see  that  souls  are  of  some  consequence  and  you  have 
done  much  good  in  preaching;  therefore,  go  and  do  all  the  good  you  can. 
Respecting  his  property,  he  left  it  in  will  to  his  wife,  or  widow,  during  her 
life,  directed  after  her  decease  to  Hiram  Dennison,  provided  he  serves  the 
widow  faithfully  his  time  out,  and  in  case  he  should  die,  leaving  no  heir,  then 
what  may  be  left  is  directed  unto  us,  as  heirs,  the  brothers  and  sisters  of 
the  deceased.  Peleg  Standish  is  administrator  with  the  widow.  It  was 
supposed  that  she  was  soon  to  have  married  had  not  the  Lord  have  taken 
the  young  man's  life.     She  is  now  going  to  live  with  her  brother  Peleg. 

Respecting  religion  here  Electa  has  written.  Brother  Ellis,  if  you  have 
collected  the  Crapo  notes,  I  wish  you  would  send  the  money  due  unto  daddy 
Moon  to  him,  then  take  your  own  pay  for  your  pains  and  send  the  remainder 
to  me  the  first  good  opportunity  and  by  Daniel  Ellis,  [125]  if  he  returns  soon. 
*  *  I  have  many  trials  in  life  which  would  make  me  weary  of  the  world 
'did  not  the  Lord  often  happify  my  soul  with  showers  of  divine  blessings. 
May  the  blessings  of  heaven  rest  on  you  and  yours. 

From  your  feeling  brother, 

BARNABAS  ANNABLE. 

P.  S.     We  hear  that  Capt.  Lincoln  [67]  is  at  Lake  Erie. 

Letter  from  Lucretia  Smith  to  Miss  Polly  Annable.     See  page  116. 

Shelbukne,  Mass.,  April  23,  1797. 
To  Miss  Polly  Annable  : 

Please  to  read  these  lines  with  patience.  Well,  Polly,  I  did  not  begin 
my  school  until  the  third  day  after  I  arrived  at  Shelburne,  and  those  days 
should  have  been  glad  to  have  spent  with  you  in  Ashfield.  I  have  kept 
school  three  days  and  tedious  long  days  they  were.  I  shall  not  tell  you  that 
I  am  homesick,  but  will  venture  to  say  that  I  feel  very  low-spirited,  though 
my  school  is  very  agreeable,  yet  the  people  are  all  strangers  to  me  in  this 
town  and  it  seems  as  if  they  always  would  be.  Mary,  [or  Polly]  if  you  had 
any  idea  of  mj'  feelings  you  would  come  and  see  me.  I  saw  Mr.  Norton 
that  evening,  after  I  parted  with  your  dear  self,  and  earnestly  requested  him 
to  wait  on  you  to  Shelburne.  He  said  that  would  be  a  very  great  pleasure, 
but  he  expected  to  go  out  of  town  next  week.  Hark !  Somebody  knocks. 
I  must  bid  you  good  bye  for  a  moment,  but  shall  disturb  you  again  directly. 

Mary,  I  have  a  short  story  to  tell  you.  While  I  was  engaged  in  writing 
to  you,  I  was  interrupted  by  a  gentleman  and  lady,  who  came  to  see  if  I 
would  walk  down  town  with  them.  So  accordingly  I  went,  and  there  I  saw 
a  number  of  your  acquaintances,  which  afforded  me  but  little  satisfaction. 
What  I  should  call  satisfaction  would  be  to  see  or  here  something  from  all 


426 

my  good  friends  at  Aahfield.  If  1  do  not  get  a  letter  (if  not  two)  from  you 
soon  I  shall  ever  cease  to  subscribe  myself  your  affectionate  friend  and 
admirer.     I  shall  come  home  in  about  three  weeks  if  I  can  have  a  horse. 

LUORETIA  SMITH. 

Letter  from  Ira  Butler,  husband  of  Phebe  Lincoln,  to  his  wife's  uncle, 
Dimick  Ellis.  In  1812,  Capt.  Samuel  Lincoln  and  his  wife,  Jane  Ellis,  sud- 
denly died  leaving  a  large  family  of  children.      See  pages  107  to  110. 

Murray,  [Orleans  Co.]  N.  Y.,  May  16,  1813. 

Dear  Uncle:  With  a  favorable  opportunity  we  inform  you  that  we  are  all 
well  now,  and  hope  these  few  lines  wUl  find  you  enjoying  tlie  same  great  bless- 
ing. Last  week  we  heard  from  the  children  and  they  are  all  well  and  feel  con- 
tented with  their  situations.  Your  nieces,  Polly  and  Phebe,  lost  each  an 
heir.  March  27,  I,  Polly,  lost  my  child,  aged  ten  months  about;  died  with 
quick  consumption.  Phebe's  died  the  24th  of  March,  with  camp  distemper. 
We  have  enjoyed  a  good  state  of  health  since.  The  letters  that  you  sent  me 
we  never  received.  They  came  to  a  neighbor's  house,  Mr.  Wilber's,  and  were 
burned.  He  had  everything  burnt  up.  We  think  it  is  very  hard  times,  for 
we  are  afraid  of  the  Indians.  Betsey  has  Benjamin,  the  baby,  with  her  and 
he  has  been  very  sick  all  winter,  but  he  has  grown  hearty  again  and  grows 
smart,  and  weighs  eighteen  pounds. 

This  from  your  loving  nieces,  in  the  town  of  Murray,  Phebe,  Polly, 
Betsey.  IRA  BUTLER. 

From  Mrs.  Ruth  (Moon)  Annable — see  page  366 — to  Mrs.  Polly  (Anna- 
ble)  Ellis,  of  Ashfield.  No  date  is  given,  but  it  must  have  been  written 
previous  to  1818. 

Sempronids,  N.  Y. 

Dear  Sister:  I  take  this  opportunity  to  inform  you  that  we  are  all 
well  at  present.  Mother  and  Bethiah  are  very  well.  Mother  has  been  able 
to  visit  the  Doctor,  Moses  and  Lecta.  [Dr.  David  Annable,  Moses  Bartlett, 
her  grandson,  and  Mrs.  Electa  Phillips,  her  granddaughter.]  I  have  the 
sorrowful  news  to  write  that  we  have  heard  of  the  death  of  father  and 
brother  Daniel  Moon.  I  think  my  poor  mother  must  be  in  trouble.  I  wish 
you  would  come  and  see  your  mother  and  sister  once  more,  if  I  never  can 
mine.  Your  mother  grows  childish,  but  not  troublesome.  Edward  and 
Mima  [Lieut.  Edward  and  Jemima  Annable]  were  here  on  a  visit  last  week. 
Mima  was  ill.  She  said  the  doctor  said  she  was  going  into  consumption. 
Alcemena  [see  page  94]  has  been  very  sick.  Samuel  and  Nancy  [her  chil- 
dren] are  teaching  schools.  The  Doctor  [  David  Annable]  talks  of  going  to 
see  you.  We  all  send  love  to  uncle  and  aunt,  [Lieut.  John  and  Molly  Ellis] 
likewise  to  Hannah  Hale. 

MRS,  RUTH  ANNABLE. 

Letter  from  Edward  D.  Ellis  to  his  mother  and  step  father,  in  Sem- 
pronius.     Young  Edward  had  gone  out  to  learn  the  printer's  art.     [235]. 

Waterloo,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  24,  1819. 
Dear  Parents:     I  have  succeeded  in  making  as  advantageous  a  bar- 
gain with  my  employer  as  we  had  anticipated.     He  is  to  allow  me  one  hun- 
dred dollars  in  cash  and  twenty  in  whatever  I  may  wish,  payable  quarterly. 


427 

I  am  of  opinion  that  cash  can  procure  whatever  you  may  think  best,  at  better 
advantage  than  trade.  One  quarter  will  end  about  the  middle  of  January 
next,  when  $25  in  money  and  85  in  something  else  will  be  due.  I  shall 
probably  be  in  want  of  many  articles,  however,  I  have  been  thinking  that  it 
might  be  a  good  plan  at  the  end  of  the  first  quarter  to  take  a  quantity  of 
garden  seeds,  that  is  if  you  can  turn  them  to  advantage  at  any  of  the  stores 
where  you  trade.  Mr.  Leaven wortti  is  to  receive  them  for  printing,  and  if 
you  can  let  them  go  to  merchants  for  articles  of  trade,  it  may  not  be  amiss 
to  take  them.  I  merely  mention  this  that  you  might  make  inquiries,  in 
which  case  let  me  know  the  kinds  wanted.  *  *  The  sickness  which  has 
prevailed  all  over  the  United  States  is  gradually  subsiding.  In  Xew  York 
the  inhabitants  are  gradually  returning  to  their  dwellings,  where  several 
weeks  since  the  yellow  fever  raged  to  an  alarming  extent.  *  *  I  have 
sent  two  papers  for  you  by  the  mail.  I  expect  to  procure  me  a  decent  chest 
for  11.25,  if  80,  I  shall  not  be  obliged  to  send  for  my  basket. 

From  your  obedient  son, 

E.  D.  ELLIS. 

Letter  from  Minerva  E'lis  [733]  to  her  uncle,  Cyrus  Ellis,  regarding  the 
death  of  her  father,  Edward  D.  Ellis  [235],  brother  of  Cyrus. 

Detroit,  Mich.,  June  3,  1848. 
"  Dear  Uncle:  I  received  your  letter,  of  the  24th  of  May,  written  to 
my  dear  father,  but  it  came  too  late  for  his  perusal.  He  died  on  the  15th  of 
May,  Monday  morning,  at  8  o'clock,  after  being  confined  to  his  bed  only  one 
day.  The  cause  of  his  death  was  over-exertion  at  a  large  fire,  which  took 
place  a  few  weeks  ago.  He  died  very  happy,  rejoicing  in  his  Saviour.  He 
was  beloved  and  respected  bj'  all  who  knew  him.  He  has  been  a  worthy 
citizen,  and  a  kind  affectionate  father  and  husband,  but  it  pleased  God  to 
take  him  to  himself,  and  1  hope  one  day  to  join  him  in  that  land  of  bliss. 

There  let  his  spirit  rest  secure 

lu  the  arms  of  angels  blest  and  pure. 

There  are  six  children  of  us.  I  am  the  oldest,  and  was  16  last  Novem- 
ber; Benjamin  F.  is  the  youngest,  aged  4  years.  You  mention  in  your  letter 
visiting  us  next  year.  We  shall  be  happy  to  see  you  out  here.  Mother  is  in 
very  poor  health  at  present.  The  children  are  all  well.  Aunt  Mindwell 
Potter  father's  half-sister  is  out  in  Hillsdale,  Michigan.  Cousin  John  Ellis 
[243]  lives  her^,  and  his  family.  Mother  sends  her  love  to  you  and  your  family. 
'  "'"     Your  aflfectionate  niece, 

MARY  MINERVA  ELLIS. 

From  Hannah  Dimick  to  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Lieut.  John  Ellis  [16],  of  Ash- 
field: 

Barnstable,  Oct.  17,  1806. 

Dear  Aunt — These  lines  are  to  inform  you  of  the  death  of  my  father. 
He  died  four  weeks  ago  last  Friday,  after  being  sick  about  ten  months.  He 
was  so  as  to  be  able  to  go  out  till  four  weeks  before  he  died.  We  are  all 
well  now  and  hope  this  will  find  you  and  family  the  same.     We  have  not  had 


428 

letters  from  Sandwich  since  my  uncle  Edward  died,  but  hear  that  they  are  all 
well.  My  mother  sends  love  to  you  and  family,  and  wishes  you  to  write  to 
uncle  Annable. 

From  your^friend  and  niece, 

.   HANNAH  DIMOCK. 
To  Mrs.  Mary  Ealia. 

Letter  from  John  Agry,  of  Hallowell,  Maine,  to  his  cousin,  Dimick  Ellis. 
Mr.  Agry's  mother  was  a  Dimick,  from  "The  Cape."  She  was  a  sister  of 
Mrs.  vSamuel  Annable,  Jr.,  and  Mrs.  Lieut.  John  Ellis.  See  pages  78  and 
366. 

Hallowell,  Maine,  March  23d,  1818. 
Mr.  Dimick  Ellfs,  Ashfield: 

Dear  Sir — Your  letter  of  the  15th  December  last  came  safe  to  Hallowell, 
but  my  brother,  Thomas,  and  myself  being  in  Boston  the  most  part  of  the 
winter,  will  account  for  this  late  answer.  It  was  with  pleasure  we  received 
information  from  relations  known  to  us  only  by  the  affectionate  regards  of  my 
mother,  who  never  ceased  to  cherish  an  anxious  desire  for  their  welfare  while 
she  lived.  1  will  now  proceed  to  give  you  the  information  requested,  with  a 
short  account  of  our  family  since  they  left  Barnstable;  occurrences  prior  to 
this,  I  presume,  are  familiar  to  your  mother.  My  father  and  mother  removed 
to  Gardinerston,  now  called  Pittston,  in  1763;  the  family  consisted  of  one 
daughter  and  three  sons:  Hannah,  Thomas,  David  and  John.  My  father  died 
in  1783;  my  sister  married  Samuel  Oakman,  and  died,  much  respected  and 
lamented,  in  1787,  leaving  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  both  sons  are  since 
dead,  one  of  which  has  left  three  children  (the  oldest,  a  daughter  about  13), 
and  are  now  under  my  guardianship,  the  daughters  are  married  and  well  set- 
led  in  life.  My  mother  died  in  1807.  The  oldest  son,  Thomas  Agry,  has 
seven  children,  two  sons  and  five  daughters.  The  two  eldest  daughters  are 
well  married  and  live  in  the  neighborhood;  one  son  is  settled  at  Bath,  about 
30  miles  off,  the  rest  are  young  and  at  home.  David  Agry  died  in  Petersburg, 
Virginia,  August,  1813;  he  followed  the  sea  in  a  ship  of  which  he  was  master 
and  owner,  and  left  no  family.  John  Agry,  the  third  son  and  writer  of  this, 
has  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  the  oldest  24  years  2d  day 
of  August  last.  I  have  been  thus  particular,  thinking  it  might  be  interesting 
to  your  mother,  as  I  think  I  have  heard  my  mother  say  that  my  aunts  made  a 
visit  to  Barnstable  before  she  left  there,  and  your  mother  may  recollect  some 
of  the  children,  although  young  at  the  time,  and  wish  to  know  something  par- 
ticularly about  them.  The  business  of  myself  and  brothers  has  been  commer- 
cial, and  we  have  suffered  greatly  with  the  war,  having  lost  between  thirty 
and  forty  thousand  dollars,  but  fortunately  saved  enough  to  continue  our 
business,  though  it  is  now  dull  and  nets  but  little  protit. 

Betsy  Lewis  married  Eeuben  Colburn,  and  they  are  now  both  living  in 
Pittston;  they  have  one  son  and  six  daughters  living.  Her  husband's  mind,  for 
two  or  three  years  past,  has  been  slightly  deranged,  but  not  so  far  as  to  require 
confinement.  They  subsist  comfortably  with  the  assistance  of  their  children. 
Hannah  Dimick  I  have  heard  nothing  from  for  two  years  ])a8t,  she  then  lived 
by  herself  in  one  part  of  a  house  occupied  by  her  brother,  Charles  Dimick. 
My  uncle,  Edward  Dimick,  died  in  1803.  He  was  in  perfect  health  one  hour 
before  his  death. 


429 

Pray  write  us;  it  will  be  a  great  satisfactioQ  to  hear  from  you  often. 
Please  present  my  regards  to  your  mother  and  all  relations,  and  accept  my 
sincere  wishes  for  your  and  their  health  and  happiness. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  yours  afiFectionately, 

JOHN  AGRY. 

Letter  from  Samuel,  son  of  Elder  Barnabas  Annable,  to  his  aunt,  Mrs. 
Polly  Annable  Ellis.     See  page  367. 

Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  27th,  1818. 

Dear  AuNT^In  compliance  with  your  request,  and  my  own  feelings  do  I 
gladly  embrace  the  opportunity  of  writing  to  one  for  whom  I  ever  have  and 
ever  shall  cherish  the  highest  sentiments  of  respect  and  esteem.  I  cannot 
but  reflect  for  a  moment  on  the  happiness  your  presence  afforded  in  the  early 
hours  of  my  life.  Nothing  could  then  afford  more  pleasure  than  the  company 
of  those  to  whom  I  was  allied  by  the  ties  of  natural  affections.  Fondly  imag- 
ing them  to  be  the  best  of  human  beings,  I  really  enjoyed  in  their  presence 
consummate  bliss. 

But  in  the  dispensations  of  Providence,  it  was  ordained  that  I  should  part 
with  some  of  them  and  move  to  the  new  country  [from  Ashfield  to  Sempro- 
nius.]  This  was  trying,  though  I  was  hardly  large  enough  to  realize  it. 
Nothing  caused  greater  sorrow  and  made  deeper  impressions  on  my  mind  than 
the  thought  of  leaving  Aunt  Polly — perhaps  never  to  see  her  again — never  did 
the  impressions  of  sorrow  fully  wear  away;  and  it  was  long  before,  in  sweet 
remembrances  of  past  scenes,  I  could  hail  your  arrival  in  Sempronius.  Your 
visits  were  gladdening  to  my  feelings,  and  I  only  regretted  that  you  must 
return  again. 

But  those  scenes  are  past,  and  I  have  now  one  still  more  trying  to  relate. 
Last  Thursday,  Electa  and  Nancy,  Bartlet  and  Enos,  two  ever  dear  and  affec- 
tionate sisters,  with  two  beloved  brothers,  took  their  leave  at  Sempronius  for 
the  long  contemplated  journey  to  the  wilds  of  Indiana.  The  rest  of  the  family 
remain  till  next  spring.  You  will,  no  doubt,  be  curious  to  know  the  feelings 
that  were  manifested  on  this  trying  event.  In  the  morning  the  neighbors 
flocked  in  to  pay  their  respects  and  render  them  what  assistance  they  could 
about  loading  and  getting  them  ready  for  a  start.  Notwithstanding  all  seemed 
to  be  filled  with  the  deepest  regret  at  the  thought  of  separating,  each  one 
assumed  as  much  of  an  air  of  merriment  as  they  could,  in  order  to  repress  in 
some  measure  the  anguish  of  those  who  were  about  to  leave  us.  Each  cor- 
dially bestowed  their  best  wishes  for  their  future  comfort  and  prosperity.  Sister 
Nancy,  with  a  firm  resolution,  if  possible,  to  restrain  her  feelings  so  as  to  refrain 
from  tears,  braved  it  till  she  got  as  far  as  Elisha's,  where  we  accompanied  her. 
We  went  in;  I  shook  hands  with  sister  Electa,  and  she  burst  into  tears.  Sister 
Nancy  could  no  longer  restrain  her  feelings— she  wept,  and  most  of  the 
women  present  gave  vent  to  their  feelings  in  the  same  way.  For  my  own 
part  the  scene  was  truly  heartrending.  The  boys  braved  it.  To  think  that 
fourteen  hundred  miles  should  separate  me  from  those  with  whom  the  happy, 
though  transient,  morning  of  my  life  had  been  spent,  was  truly  painful.  I 
could  hardly  refrain  from  giving  vent  to  my  own  feelings  in  a  flow  of  tears. 
Yet  I  did.     Not  that  I  was  ashamed  to  cry.     Ah,  no!     Reason  forbade  that  I 


43° 

should  add  fuel  to  the  fire  of  anguish  already  kindled  in  the  breasts  of  those 
who  were  about  to  leave  us.  The  struggle  was  hard  indeed.  With  many  a 
deep  drawn  sigh  did  I  resist  the  anguish  of  my  soul. 

They  are  gone,  and  how  shall  I  be  reconciled  ?  Reason  dictates  flattering 
with  a  hope  that  all  is  for  the  best.  Considering  it  providential,  already  be- 
gins to  calm  the  anguish  of  my  soul.  How  good,  how  comforting  is  the  power 
of  reflection.  Were  it  not  for  this,  the  passions  would  overcome  the  other 
faculties  of  the  mind,  the  soul  would  sink  into  a  state  of  dejectedness  which 
would  render  life  miserable. 

I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  Nancy,  through  extreme  hurry  of  business 
in  preparing  to  get  away,  was  obliged  to  neglect  copying  that  writing  which 
she  promised  you.  Having  to  go  away  myself  in  search  of  employment,  I 
could  not  attend  to  it. 

I  have  not  yet  engaged  a  school,  but  I  expect  to  soon.  Bromley  has 
engaged  to  work  for  uncle  David  this  winter  in  the  brewery.  We  are  all  in 
tolerable  health.  Mrs.  Fuller  being  present,  wishes  me  to  write  her  compli- 
ments [Rhoda  Annable  Fuller,  see  page  94.] 

Grandmother  wishes  me  to  remember  her;  says  she  is  still  alive,  but  does 
not  expect  to  be  a  great  while.  She  is  nearly  as  comfortable  as  she  was  when 
you  was  here.  Aunt  Bethiah  wishes  me  to  write  her  respects  to  you  and  the 
family.  She  wishes  Desiah  [237]  would  write  to  her.  She  sends  her  compli- 
ments to  Mr.  Belding's  people  [John  Belding's,  see  page  372.] 

Father  and  mother  wish  me  to  write  for  them.  They  feel  anxious  to  have 
you  write  to  them.  It  is  a  general  time  of  health  with  us.  Give  my  respects 
to  uncle  Dimick,  to  great-uncle  and  aunt,  and  likewise  to  the  rest  of  the 
family,  your  children,  and  to  all  enquiring  friends.  I  wish  you  or  uncle 
would  write  me. 

I  am,  dear  aunt,  your  sincere  friend  and  affectionate  nephew, 
To  Mrs.  Polly  Ellis.  SAMUEL  ANNABLE. 

• 
Tjctters    from  Elder  Barnabas   Annable  and   wife  to  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis 

and  other  relatives  in  Ashfield. 

Sempronius,  N.  Y.  February  14th,  1819. 

May  God  prepare  the  hearts  of  my  dear  sister  and  brother,  aunt  and 
uncle  to  receive  the  particulars  of  the  death  of  mother  Annable.  She  con- 
tinued to  decline  from  the  time  you  left  here  until  some  of  the  first  days  of 
February,  when  she  grew  worse,  having  her  senses  to  the  last  minute,  and 
exercising,  as  her  prayer  was  perfect  patience,  until  her  Lord  should  come. 
She  lived  from  midnight,  after  being  sensible  that  she  was  struck  with  death, 
until  the  next  night,  sun  half  an  hour  high,  when  faltering  a  few  minutes,  her 
struggles  being  over,  she  apparently  breathed  her  life  sweetly  out.  This  was 
on  the  9th  day  of  the  month.  Another  exemplary  life  and  peaceable  death 
stimulated  us  all  to  fear  God  and  keep  his  commands  that  we  may  have 
right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  enter  into  the  city  where  we  trust  she  is  gone. 
The  text  was:  "Be  ye  also  ready,  for  in  such  an,"  etc.  We,  our  friends  and 
yours  in  this  quarter  are  well.     John  is  well  [68], 

We  have  received  a  letter  from  our  children  in  Indiana.  They  inform  us 
that  they  are  well  and  pleased  with  the  country,  and  have  bought  four  miles 


431 

from  Mount  Vernon,  a  village  on  the  Ohio  river,  and  fifteen  from  the  Wabash 
river.  Probably  in  about  three  weeks  we  shall  start.  We  now  expect  that 
Bethiah  will  go  with  us.  However,  Edward  [39]  appears  anxious  to  have  her 
stay  and  make  her  home  at  his  house.  We  shall  make  it  a  point  to  write 
from  that  place  when  we  get  there,  hoping  thereby  to  perpetuate  a  remem- 
brance of  each  other.  With  warm  affections  to  you  all  whom  I  cannot  see, 
and  strong  attachment  to  all  my  old  acquaintances, 

I  subscribe  myself  yours, 

BARNABAS  ANNABLE. 

De.vr  Sister — The  reason  that  I  did  not  write  according  to  my  agree- 
ment is,  my  health  has  been  very  poor,  my  two  little  ones  very  cross,  my 
care  other  ways  very  great,  which  renders  me  undt  for  writing.  0  Polly,  my 
trials  have  been  great  since  I  saw  you  last  fall.  Four  of  my  children  fourteen 
hundred  miles  from  me,  and  the  trial  of  parting  with  mother  and  Bethiah, 
together  with  my  own  mother  and  the  neighbors,  has  been  as  much  as  I  could 
bear. 

We  received  three  letters  from  our  childreu  after  they  left  this  town  be- 
fore they  got  to  Indiana.  The  water  was  very  low,  for  which  reason  they  had 
to  buy  a  small  boat,  and  then  taking  some  boards  and  forming  a  small  raft, 
they  put  a  part  of  the  goods  on  it,  and  set  Eaos  and  Elisha  Ellis  to  stearing  it. 
Then  they  had  to  hire  two  robust  men  to  help  them  lift  the  boat  over  the 
shoals  and  stones  until  they  got  almost  100  miles  below  Pittsburg.  They  were 
from  the  22d  of  September  until  the  5th  of  December  before  they  landed  at 
their  home.  They  in  their  letters  have  expressed  good  health  and  good  cour- 
age.    I  leave  this  subject. 

Perhaps  you  would  wish  to  know  something  more  concerning  Bethiah. 
She  bears  the  death  of  her  mother  better  than  any  of  us  had  expected.  She 
inclines  to  go  with  us,  though  her  trials  seem  to  be  great  about  leaving  friends 
behind. 

I  went  to  the  Nine  Mile  Creek  to  Eleazar  Smith's  last  fall.  Had  a  very 
agreeable  visit.  Likewise  to  Edward's.  I  can  think  of  nothing  more  at 
present  but  to  give  my  love  to  your  family  and  connections  and  your  neigh- 
bors.    Bethiah  is  not  at  home,  or  she  would  send  a  great  deal  of  love. 

I  remain  your  affectionate  sister. 
To  Polly  Ellis.  RUTH  ANNABLE. 

Letter  from  Cyrus  Ellis — page  160 — to  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis,  written  soon 
after  he  left  Ashfield  and  settled  on  the  homestead  where  he  was  born,  in 
1799,  and  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1885. 

Sempkonius,  N.  Y.,  May,  1820. 

Respectkd  Sir  :  I  now  have  the  satisfaction  to  sit  down  to  write  a 
few  lines  and  to  inform  you,  agreeable  to  your  request,  that  I  am  in  perfect 
health,  and  have  been  so  almost  without  exception  ever  since  I  left  Ashfield. 
It  is  a  tolerable  healthy  time  here  now,  but  it  has  been  rather  sickly  in  sev- 
eral towns  adjoining  the  Cayuga  lake,— that  is  many  are  laid  up  with  the 
fever  and  ague.  The  position  of  those  places,  in  the  ^ring  season  of  the 
year,  is  calculated  to  bring  it  on.  Sempronius  is  not  much  distinguished  for 
this  disorder,  yet  there  are  some  in  our  own  neighborhood  that  have  had  it. 


432 

As  a  disease,  chills  has  ^ever  as  yet  attacked  me,  and  I  humbly  hope  never 
will.  I  received  the  letter  which  you  wrote,  in  ten  days  after  date,  and 
hastened  to  know  what  was  contained  in  your  very  brief  letter,  but  I  have 
ipade  no  haste  to  send  back  another.  You  write  that  it  was  a  healthy  time 
in  Ashfield,  yet  there  had  been  several  deaths  since  I  left  there,  the  mention 
of  those  (especially  S.  Bement's)  came  quite  unexpected  to  me.  You  would 
have  favored  me  much  if  you  had  given  more  particulars  of  their  deaths  and 
the  time  when  they  occurred.  Two  persons  have  died  since  I  came  here; 
they  were  neither  young  nor  old,  and  there  was  no  funeral  ceremonies,  only 
but  a  few  neighbors  collecting  to  inter  the  dead,  having  no  prayers,  attend- 
ance, nor  address  to  the  mourners.  I  think  it  as  being  a  singular  thing. 
The  old  farm,  seventy  acres,  which  my  father  left  at  his  death,  I  have  the 
whole  charge  of  it  given  up  to  me.  My  step-father  not  having  lived  upon 
said  farm  for  four  years  past,  in  which  time  different  families  have  lived 
upon  it,  it  has  been  rather  badly  conducted.  I  have  reasons  to  blame  some- 
body as  to  the  management  of  it,  yet  I  think  I  have  succeeded  in  making  as 
advantageous  a  change  of  residence  as  I  could  have  anticipated;  that  is. 
my  earnings  and  employment  are  more  satisfactory,  and  at  present  there  is 
a  probability  of  its  being  much  better  for  me  than  1  could  possibly  have  done, 
if  I  had  stayed  at  Ashfield. 

The  suflFrages  for  governor  were  taken  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  April,  the 
last  month,  throughout  this  State,  and  a  hot  election  too.  The  parties  with 
us  are  not  Federals  and  Republicans,  but  Clintonians  and  Bucktails.  The 
one  upheld  Mr.  Clinton,  as  candidate  for  Governor,  and  the  other  Mr. 
Tompkins,  the  Vice-President.  These  men,  previous  to  the  late  election,  have 
been  reproachfully  abused  and  degraded  by  their  enemies,  and  cried  up  and 
magnified  by  their  friends,  by  every  newspaper  in  the  State.  Indeed,  where 
there  is  a  great  strain  of  party  zeal  for  statesmen,  the  fittest  and  best  are, 
and  will  be  scandalized  when  there  is  no  cause  for  it,  and  in  fact  it  is  curious 
and  intelligible  to  read  the  papers,  at  the  present  time,  if  nothing  more  than 
to  see  what  genius  and  ideas  are  displayed  by  electioneering;  time  has  not 
sufficed  yet  to  ascertain  the  number  of  votes  given  in  the  whole  State,  bat 
from  the  counties,  as  far  as  we  have  heard,  there  is  a  very  small  majority  for 
Clinton,  so  it  is  impossible  to  tell  at  this  time  of  whom  the  choice  for  Gov- 
ernor is  in  favor  of. 

Prom  your  obedient, 

C.  ELLIS. 

P.  S.  You  will  remember  me  to  all  the  family,  etc.  Inform  Desiah  that 
I  saw  Emma  and  Climena  Rhodes  last  month. 

Letter  from  Ruth  Annable,  wife  of  Barnabas,  to  Dr.  David  Annable  and 
Moses  Bartlett,  of  Sempronius,  X.  Y.  See  page  370.  The  letter  was  re- 
ceived February,  1S20. 

Black  Township,  Posey  County,  Indiana. 

Dear  Friends  :  I  expect  it  is  with  anxiety  you  have  waited  to  see  some 
of  my  scribblings.  I  will  assure  you  that  it  has  not  been  for  want  of  aflfec- 
tion  towards  you,  but,  having  much  trial  and  suflFering,  I  have  felt  unwilling 
to  fill  your  ears  with  the  same.  Surely,  dear  friend,  I  never  shall  forget  you, 
neither  the  favor  you  bestowed  on  me  before  I  left  you.     I  often  sleep  a  short 


433 

nap,  then  awake,  can  sleep  no  more  till  the  day  breaks,  thinking  of  my 
neighbors  and  friends  I  have  left  behind.  I  one  night  began  my  medita- 
tions thinking  of  you  all.  I  could  not  close  my  eyes  to  sleep  that  night. 
I  remember  my  promise,  that  I  would  write  to  you  my  journal  and  how  I 
liked  the  country,  after  I  should  get  here,  and  how  we  fared. 

I  expect  Mr.  Belding*  gave  you  my  journal  by  land.  We  took  water 
about  two  weeks  after  our  teamsters  left  us.  We  began  with  pleasant  sailing, 
for  a  few  hours,  then  we  met  with  sudden  turns  in  the  river,  and,  the  current 
being  swift,  we  were  hurried  on  shore,  or  driven  upon  an  island  or  sand-bar. 
The  boat  struck  so  hard  against  the  root  of  a  tree,  the  first  day,  that  every 
child  was  sent  upon  its  head,  and  the  one  who  commanded  our  boat  crying 
out,  "we  are  gone  for  it,"  gave  me  such  a  shock,  together  with  the  cold,  set 
me  into  such  ague  tits  as  I  hardly  ever  experienced;  for  we  had  two  families 
aboard,  which  made  nineteen  souls  of  us,  all  inexperienced  hands.  So  I 
lived  the  first  week,  having  sudden  shocks.  It  got  my  stomach  so  weak  that 
I  could  not  receive  any  food,  but  once  in  four  and  twenty  hours,  for  about 
ten  days.  My  fatigue  was  likewise  very  hard,  my  little  ones  being  sick.  I 
had  them  both  to  wait  on  and  to  hold  in  my  lap,  till  I  could  hardly  stand 
when  I  rose  up.  When  we  entered  the  Ohio  river  my  trials  were  some  less 
by  day,  but  then  we  sailed  at  night  too;  which  tilled  me  with  fear  that  we 
should  run  on  to  a  sawyer,  [fallen  trees.]  I  had  but  little  rest.  We  had  no 
pilot  and  strove  to  follow  a  boatman,  that  was  used  to  the  river,  by  this 
means  was  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  visiting  Stephen  Ellis'  family,  [119] 
for  which  I  was  very  sorry.  We  found  where  they  were  and  an  opportunity 
to  send  the  gown  and  letter  directed  to  them. 

We  stopped  at  Cincinnati;  there  we  saw  Levi  Fuller  and  John  Wood. 
They  both  appeared  to  be  very  glad  to  sqe  us.  John  Wood  has  since  been  to 
see  us;  he  said  that  Stephen  Ellis  was  doing  tolerably  well,  but  his  wife  was 
weakly;  likewise,  that  they  had  received  the  gown  and  letter.  At  Gallipolis, 
about  100  miles  down  the  river,  we  got  rid  of  a  very  disgreeable  family;  for 
which  I  was  never  more  glad.  I  would  warn  every  one  that  takes  passage 
to  keep  everything  they  can  under  lock  and  key;  for  I  lost,  by  not  having 
this  care,  Eliza's  gingham  frock,  three  pair  of  stockings,  one  run  of  stocking 
yam,  one  sheet,  one  shirt,  a  pair  of  pillows,  and  mother's  old  long  loose  gown, 

I  have  been  sick  and  unable  to  write.  The  last  of  October  now  begins. 
I  now  again  begin  to  write.  My  sickness  was  the  same  as  when  Doctor 
White  doctored  me,  though  not  so  severe.  I  sufiFered  considerable  for  nour- 
ishment that  could  not  be  had.  I  am  now  in  tolerable  health.  I  shall  not 
strive  to  give  you  much  more  of  my  journal.  On  the  Ohio  we  had  some  pleas- 
ant sailing,  some  pleasing  prospects — such  as  steamboats,  floating- mills,  together 
with  villages.  We  landed  at  Mount  Vernon  the  22d  of  April,  all  in  good 
health,  excepting  myself  and  babe.  We  found  our  children  all  in  good  health, 
but  Xancy.  She  grew  more  ill,  and  was  not  able  to  do  her  own  work  for  as 
much  as  one  month.  I  went  into  the  house  with  Xancy.  We  sufiFered  for 
provisions,  for  we  could  not  get  anything  but  hoe-cake,  but  I  think  it  no  dis- 
paragement to  the  country,  but  a  neglectful  people;  but,  being  unwell,  this 
kind  of  fare  went  very  hard,  but  harder  yet  when  we  could  not  get  our  bacon. 

♦Probably  Wm.  Belding,  who  m.  Catherine,  daV.  of  Thomas  Ranney.    See  page  386. 


434 

Meat  was  very  scarce,  by  reason  of  its  being  sent  off  in  boatloads  to  New 
Orleans,  so  the  people  did  not  save  enough  for  themselves,  so  we  have  bad  to 
do  without  meat,  sometimes  two  and  three  weeks.  We  bought  two  cows. 
Three  quarts  of  milk  were  the  most  that  ever  we  had  from  them  both,  besides 
suckling  their  calves,  and  were  as  good  as  cows  commonly  here  that  run  in 
the  woods.  We  could  not  get  any  sauce,  if  it  had  been  to  save  our  lives.  1 
have  not  room  enough  to  finish  my  letter.     1  wiU  conclude  on  another   sheet. 

The  people  of  this  place  care  for  nothing  but  to  raise  corn  and  hogs. 
They  raise  a  few  beans,  which  they  call  snaps,  only.  There  are  men  here 
who  have  lived  here  twelve  years,  and  have  not  a  spear  of  grass  growing;  but 
I  think  grass  will  do  well  here.  I  saw  a  small  piece  of  meadow;  I  think  I 
never  saw  so  much  hay  come  off  so  small  a  piece  of  ground  in  my  life.  Wheat 
does  well  here;  is  a  very  sure  crop.  Potatoes  can  be  raised  largely  to  the 
acre;  the  sweet  potato  in  greater  abundance;  they  are  the  best  potato  that 
ever  I  ate;  could  live  on  them  alone.  The  season  has  been  too  dry  for  pota- 
toes to  do  well.  The  people  say  it  never  was  so  dry  since  the  country  has 
been  settled.  We  have  not  raised  much  sauce,  by  reason  of  the  same,  but  we 
have  a  few  bushels  of  potatoes,  some  small  turnips  and  French  turnips,  some 
cabbage,  about  three  hundred  pumpkins,  and  three  hundred  and  fifty  bushels 
of  corn.  We  have  sowed  thirteen  acres  of  wheat  and  some  expect  to  sow 
three  acres  more.  We  have  two  cows  and  four  calves,  one  five  year  old  mare, 
seven  yearling  hogs  and  eight  shoats.  We  fared  hard  this  year,  but  no  reason 
to  complain,  for  my  family  was  never  so  healthy  as  they  have  been  this 
season. 

I  am  not  discouraged  about  getting  a  living,  but  the  people  do  not  seem, 
natural.  We  have  not  received  a  visit  from  any  woman  since  we  have 
been  here,  excepting  two  of  our  own  country  people.  Tell  her  that  was  the 
Widow  Foster,  that  she  has  a  brother  living  near  neighbor  to  me.  He  came 
here  this  summer;  likes  the  country  well.  I  think  he  will  get  rich.  I  do 
not  look  for  riches  for  my  own  part,  but  I  think  that  we  could  have  done 
well,  if  we  had  only  brought  $200  with  us.  We  have  bought  two  cows,  one 
to  give  milk,  the  other  one  to  fatten  for  beef;  one  at  thirteen  and  the  other 
at  nineteen  dollars. 

I  like  our  farm  very  well;  it  lies  handsome,  and  tolerably  well  watered. 
There  are  two  living  springs  upon  it,  and  plenty  fencing  timber.  We  have  a 
house  built,  with  a  good  cellar  under  it,  and  a  corn  house,  seventeen  feet 
square,  set  on  blocks,  made  very  convenient.  We  have  a  well  close  to  the  house. 
The  snakes,  that  were  so  much  dreaded,  have  not  been  seen  on  our  farm. 
I  think  the  hogs  have  thinned  them  off.  Tne  water  in  this  place  will  not 
wash  without  cleansing,  but  the  pleasant  showers  affords  us  water  enough 
to  wash,  in  the  fore  part  of  the  season,  but  we  have  been  very  much  pestered 
for  water  to  wash  with  for  two  months  past.  My  life  has  been  made  very 
uncomfortable  by  reason  of  inconveniences,  but  we  have  a  hope  of  having 
things  better. 

I  have  no  wheels,  but  can  borrow  one.  My  flax  and  wool  are  not  yet 
span.  I  have  to  patch  comfortably,  and  1  keep  my  family  comfortable  and 
decent.  I  could  advise  a  family  that  comes  here  to  be  well  clothed,  for  flax 
and  wool  can  hardly  be  gotten  till  you  raise  it.  Flax  does  well  here,  with 
those  who  know  how  to  raise  it.     I^a^e  seen  but  few  sheep;  they  were  large; 


435 

they  shear  them  twice  a  year.  I  have  written  many  irregular  mistakes;  you 
must  patch  as  well  as  you  can.  I  have  but  little  time  to  write.  I  have  my 
bread  all  to  bake  by  the  tire,  and  get  but  little  time  to  do  anything  else  but  get 
victuals.  I  have  not  seen  an  oven  since  I  have  been  in  this  town.  The  people 
are  very  ignorant  of  housewifery.  They  have  a  very  diflferent  way  of  cooking, 
in  almost  every  respect.  They  make  a  pie  that  suits  my  taste  very  well.  They 
make  a  crust,  put  it  into  a  bake  kettle,  fill  it  up  with  jjeaches,  put  in  a  little 
water;  then  put  on  a  crust  and  bake  it.  We  have  gotten  brick  for  an  oven 
and  a  hearth.  We  have  bought  a  fraction  of  land,  consisting  of  about  twenty 
acres,  adjoining  our  farm.  Our  boys  all  have  good  courage;  like  the  place 
well.     I  never  saw  fellows  work  so  well  as  they  have  this  summer,  in  my  life. 

My  husband  Hies  around  like  a  boy;  better  than  since  he  was  a  child. 
They  say  that  I  have  written  concerning  the  corn,  instead  of  three  hundred' 
and  fifty  I  must  write  four  hundred  and  fifty  bushels,  and  they  have  got  it 
all  harvested;  they  raised  part  of  it  on  shares.  On  the  whole  they  reckon 
they  have  raised  six  hundred.  Our  wheat,  on  the  ground  looks  like  a  pink- 
bed.  You  need  not  be  afraid  that  you  will  have  to  eat  all  Indian  bread,  for 
wheat  does  better  here  than  in  York  State.  I  think  there  is  no  danger  but 
what  a  man  can  get  a  good  living,  if  he  can  have  money  enough  to  buy  a  horse 
and  cow  or  two,  and  other  provisions  to  give  him  a  start.  It  is  far  better  for 
fruit  in  this  place  than  in  York  State.  Some  of  our  grafts  have  grown  a 
yard  and  half  in  length,  this  summer.  The  longer  I  stay  here  the  better  I 
like  the  place. 

We  understood,  before  we  came  here,  that  it  was  diflBcult  to  preserve 
meat,  but  it  can  be  here,  as  well  as  in  York  State.  Flies  are  not  so  very 
troublesome.  If  you  wish  to  know  about  other  insects,  I  must  tell  you  that 
musketoes  are  very  troublesome,  a  few  weeks  in  the  spring  season;  fleas,  there 
scarcely  ever  are  any  seen  in  the  hottest  of  summer.  By  this  time  you  think 
it  strange  that  I  say  nothing  about  Bethiah.  She  has  not  shed  one  tear 
to  where  she  did  ten  thousand  before  she  left  Sempronius.  She  never  will 
own  that  she  is  sorry  that  she  came  with  us.  She  sends  her  love  to  you 
all.  Says  I  must  tell  you  that  she  likes  here  well,  and,  likewise,  to  tell 
yon  that  blackberries  are  plenty,  and  the  people  give  us  plenty  of  peaches; 
that  we  have  muskmelons  and  watermelons  in  abundance;  and  that  we  have 
a  nursery  of  two  thousands  apple  trees,  growing.  It  has  been  very  healthy 
in  this  place.    There  has  been  no  need  of  a  doctor  in  this  place  this  summer. 

Samuel  lives  at  Evansville,  has  just  made  us  a  visit;  is  in  good  health. 
He  earned  for  himself  §70  in  three  months.  Now  for  you  to  know  the  particular 
advantages  and  disadvantages  of  our  country.  Salt,  at  present,  is  scarce  and 
dear;  it  is  not  to  be  obtained  for  less  than  three  or  four  dollars  a  bushel, 
but  the  people  think  it  will  be  found  more  plenty.  Sugar  is  scarce  and 
dear;  the  price  is  thirty-two  and  a  half  cents  a  pound.  There  are  some  of 
our  neighbors  who  have  maple  trees,  and  make  three  or  four  hundred  weight 
of  sugar  in  a  season.  I  think  the  difficulty  about  milling  is  not  great,  for  we 
have  horse  and  water  mills  a  plenty;  the  latter  does  not  grind,  only  in  a  time 
of  high  water.  The  horse  mills  will  grind  thirty  bushels  a  day;  but  it  is 
somewhat  bad  for  a  poor  man,  for  he  must  find  his  own  team,  or  pay  twelve 
cents  for  every  bushel,  besides  the  toll.  Corn  whisky  is  generally  seventy- 
five  cents  per  gallon;  wheat  whisky,  one  dollar. 


436 

It  is  now  the  tenth  of  December.  It  begins  to  be  cold  weather.  We 
have  a  very  pleasant  season.  I  shall  advise  no  one  to  come  here;  for  I  know 
not  how  they  will  like  it,  but  I  have  wished  many  times  that  I  had  my  old 
neighbors  and  friends  around  me.  The  great  distance  does  not  hinder  my 
feeling  for  you  whenever  you  are  in  trouble.  When  1  heard  of  the  death 
of  Mr.  Whitewood,  1  can  truly  say,  my  feelings  were  very  much  affected. 
Peleg  Allen  came  into  our  neighborhood,  yesterday.  Abigail  has  gone  to 
live  in  a  house  close  to  Nancy;  he  has  not  purchased  yet,  but  thinks  he  shall 
in  this  place  I  have  enough  more  to  write,  but  have  not  room  on  my  paper. 
You  may  wish  to  know  about  the  privilege  of  meetings.  There  are  Metho- 
dist and  Baptist  preachers  in  this  place,  but  the  people  are  not  so  fond  of 
meetings  as  I  wish  they  were. 

I  conclude,  subscribing  myself  your  friend  and  well-wisher  until  death, 

RUTH  ANNABLE. 

(Moses  Bartlett,  mentioned  at  the  head  of  this  letter,  and  on  pages  3(56, 
370  and  386,  settled  in  Sempronius  about  1800,  where  he  lived  until  the 
spring  of  1837,  when  he  removed  to  Saline,  Mich.,  where  he  died  in  1846,  aged 
74  years.  His  wife  died  there  in  1843,  aged  60.  They  had  nine  children: 
Mary,  Mabel,  Hannah,  Kate,  Phineas,  Jerusha,  William,  Moses,  Jr.,  and 
Horace.  Mary  m.  a  Hull,  and  both  lived  and  died  in  Saline.  Mabel  m. 
Abraham  Bodine  and  lived  in  Clarence,  Erie  Co  ,  N.  Y.  Hannah  m.  Cooper 
Snyder  and  lives  in  Moravia,  N.  Y.,  aged  about  82.  Mr.  Snyder  is  dead. 
Kate  m.  Amos  Miller,  moved  to  Saline  in  1837,  where  both  died.  Jerusha  m. 
Austin  Convers,  of  Saline;  both  are  dead.  The  four  sons,  Phineas,  William, 
Moses  and  Horace  are  farmers — all  living  in  Clinton,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.) 


Letter  from  Dea.  David  Lyon  (see  pages  295  and  376)  and  wife,  of  Ash- 
tield,  to  Dea.  David  Ellis  and  wife  (see  pages  86  and  88),  of  Springfield,  Erie 
€o.,  Penn.     Mrs.  Lyon  and  Mrs.  Ellis  were  sisters. 

AsHFiELD,  Mass.,  June  8th,  1824. 
Belovkd  Brother  and  Sister:  These  lines  are  to  inform  you  that 
through  a  merciful  God  I  and  my  family  are  enjoying  a  measure  of  health, 
thanks  to  His  name,  and  hoping  these  lines  may  find  you  and  yours  enjoying 
health  and  prosperity.  As  to  particular  news,  I  have  nothing  worthy  of  re- 
mark. It  is  a  general  time  of  health  in  this  place,  although  there  has  been 
several  deaths.  Abraham  Jones  and  daughter  died  a  few  weeks  past;  Dr. 
Clark's  wife.  Col.  Banister,  and  a  number  of  others.  As  respects  religion,  it  is 
now  much  as  it  was  when  you  left  these  parts.  I  understand  she,  that  was 
Chloe  Drake,  now  Zenos  Field's  wife,  has  of  late  experienced  religion.  I  hope 
she  will  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord.  Oh,  brother  and  sister,  pray  for  us  in 
this  place  that  the  Lord  would  visit  us  in  mercy.  Almorean  Hayward  came 
here  the  fore  part  of  December.  He  stayed  about  a  fortnight.  His  health 
improved  much  while  he  was  here.  I  received  a  letter  from  brother  Haj'ward 
last  March;  they  were  all  well.  We  heard  from  Norwich  last  winter;  they 
are  all  well  there.  We  heard  from  Hawley ;  Brother  Brackett's  folks  were 
•well.     Lnst  week  brother  Cobb's  family  were  all  well  as  common.     Please  to 


437 

write  me  by  Jonathan  Taylor  [see  182],  the  bearer  of  this  letter.     He  can  tell 

you  much  more  than  I  can  write.     No  more  at  present. 

We  remain  your  friends  in  love, 

DAVID  LYON, 

BETSEY  LYON. 
To  Dea.  David  Ellis,  Springfield,  Pa. 

Letter  from  Mrs.  and  Mr.  Barnabas  Annable  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dimick  and 
Lieut.  John  and  Molly  Ellis,  of  Ashfield,  written  in  1820,  after  they  reached 
their  new  home  in  the  extreme  southwestern  part  of  Indiana: 

My  Loving  Sister,  Brother,  Uncle  and  Aunt  Ellis: 

My  neglect  of  duty  to  you  unto  the  present,  has  been  owing  to  much  care 
and  a  disposition  to  have  a  fair  opportunity  to  judge  of  the  health  of  the 
country.  Proceeding,  I  inform  you  that  we  took  water  at  Olean,  N.  Y.,  on 
the  Allegheny  river,  Mch.  28:  1819,  and  landed  the  23d  of  April  at  Mount  Ver- 
non, on  the  Ohio  river,  a  distance  of  more  than  twelve  hundred  miles  by 
water.  Four  miles  from  this  place  I  found  my  children  on  a  pleasant  and 
stood  piece  of  land,  entered  for  me.  After  the  fatigue  of  the  journey  was  over 
with  us.  Myself  and  family  have  spent  a  year  in  animating  hopes  of  prosper- 
ity; the  country  being  by  far  the  best,  in  my  opinion,  that  the  good  Lord  ever 
made.  We  are  now,  and  have  for  the  most  part  of  the  time,  enjoyed  a  far 
better  state  of  health  than  ever  before  in  the  course  of  our  lives.  We  have 
had  only  one  five  dollar  doctor's  charge,  and  that  was  for  setting  a  broken  leg 
of  David's,  my  little  boy,  occasioned  by  his  improving  the  uncommon  snow  of 
six  inches  deep  in  sliding  down  hill. 

Wheat,  in  common,  is  worth  seventy-five  cents  per  bushel;  corn,  fifty  in 
the  spring  season,  but  twenty-five  in  the  field.  Mast,  or  shack  pork,  is  worth 
from  three  to  four  dollars  per  hundred,  and  is  raised  in  vast  quantities.  Com- 
mon farmers  have  for  stock  from  fifty  to  one  and  two  hundred  hogs,  the  best 
article  of  trade  in  this  country. 

We  have  about  twenty  acres  of  new  land  that  I  expect  to  plant.  I  have 
fifteen  acres  of  good  looking  wheat  on  the  ground,  and  have  sowed  three  or 
four  acres  of  oats,  flax  and  barley.  The  corn  of  this  country  makes  better 
bread  than  com  in  your  country,  and  likewise  wheat,  as  it  never  smuts;  but 
from  the  long  season  of  hot  weather,  after  harvest,  it  is  liable  to  breed  the 
weavel,  as  the  peas  do  bugs  in  your  country,  which  aflfects  the  taste  of  the 
wheat  bread.  I  have  reason  to  hope  that  of  all  kinds  of  grain,  with  a  com- 
mon blessing,  to  raise  twelve  hundred  bushels  the  present  season.  We  expect 
to  reap  our  wheat  by  the  middle  of  June;  it  is  full  in  the  milk;  looks  the  best 
I  ever  saw. 

Dear  Sister  and  Brother,  by  this  time  you  begin  to  think  that  we  do  not 
care  to  write  to  let  you  know  how  we,do.  Surely,  dear  sister,  the  long  absence, 
neither  the  great  distance  which  separates  us  from  each  other,  can  ever  erase 
you  from  my  memory.  I  often  wish  Dimick  and  Polly  here,  were  but  it  may 
be  that  you  would  not  like  it  here  as  I  do.  I  am  well  suited  with  the  country, 
but  the  ways  and  manners  of  the  people  are  not  so  agreeable  as  they  were  in 
New  England  or  York  State,  although  they  are  friendly  to  me  and  my  family. 
The  place  is  very  beautiful;  there  are  peaches  in  abundance;  apples  do  well 


438 

here.  One  of  our  neighbors  gathered  one  hundred  bushels  of  apples  from 
twenty-five  trees,  only  eleven  years  from  the  seed.  We  have  a  nursery  of  two 
thousand  apple  trees.  We  have  thirty  grafts  that  we  brought  with  us  from 
our  old  orchard.  We  have  pear,  cherry  and  plum  trees — red  and  damson — 
quinces,  currants  and  grapes.  Every  thing  looks  well.  We  live  on  a  big 
road.  Electa  lives  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile*from  us.  Xancy,  on  the  same 
road,  a  half-mile.  Electa  has  a  babe  one  week  old,  and  Nancy  has  one  four 
months' old.  Sam ue^ lives  at  Evansville,  about  twenty  miles  from  here;  he 
keeps  school;  he  has  been  sick,  but  is  regaining  his  health.  The  rest  of  the 
family  never  enjoyed  such  good  health  as  they  have  since  we  have  been  here. 
As  to  my  own  part,  I  have  been  so  unreconciled  to  leaving  friends  and  rela- 
tions, together  with  hard  fare  and  inconveniences,  that  it  has  taken  off  my 
flesh  more  than  any  fit  of  sickness  that  ever  I  had.  In  about  ten  months  I 
lost  forty-four  pounds  of  flesh.  The  reason  of  hard  fare  was  not  because  pro- 
visions were  not  raised,  but  they  had  been  sent  down  the  river  to  Orleans  for 
market.  We  were  put  to  to  get  meat,  but  we  got  enough  bread.  The  inhabi- 
tants are  a  singular  people;  their  living  is  chiefly  corn  bread  and  bacon.  They 
raise  but  little  sauce,  if  any;  if  they  have  any  flour  they  know  not  how  to  use 
it  as  our  country  people  do;  they  use  it  without  raising  it.  I  expect  you  want 
to  know  more  than  I  can  think  to  write.  I  agreed  to  write  my  journal,  but  it 
would  be  quite  a  volume,  so  I  will  give  it  to  you  in  short  terms:  Such  trials 
and  frights  I  never  experienced  in  my  life  as  I  did  coming  down  the  Allegheny 
river.  I  could  not  take  any  food  only  when  we  landed  at  night  so  long  as  we 
were  on  the  Allegheny  river,  but  this  was  all  by  reason  of  inexperienced  hands. 
There  was  aboard  of  our  boat  no  one  that  knew  anything  about  the  water,  but 
thanks  be  to  God,  we  were  all  landed  safe.  The  whole  family  is  well  pleased 
with  the  country.  Your  brother  acts  ten  years  younger  than  ever  he  has 
since  I  knew  him.  They  work  as  if  they  hurried;  they  all  live  at  home  but 
Samuel.  The  rattlesnakes  that  were  so  much  dreaded  have  become  very 
scarce.  It's  now  the  first  of  May;  the  wheat  is  heading  out  and  looks  wonder- 
fully well.  Some  are  hoeing  their  corn.  My  garden  seeds  are  all  up  and 
growing  well.  Bethiah  wished  me  to  write  all  that  I  had  to  and  then  write 
for  her;  her  health  is  as  good  as  it  has  ever  been,  considering  her  age.  She 
says  I  must  tell  you  she  is  contented  and  likes  this  place,  but  feels  anxious  to 
hear  from  you  and  your  children.  She  sends  her  love  to  uncle  and  aunt  and 
all  their  children.  We  wish  you  to  write  as  quick  as  you  can.  We  want  to 
hear  from  you  all.     Give  my  love  both  to  friends  and  relations.     1  remain. 

Your  afiectionate  sister, 

RUTH  ANKABLE. 

Ruth,  being  a  little  unwell,  closes,  leaving  room  for  a  few  lines,  charging 
me  to  write  her  love  to  Hannah  Hale. 

Direct  your  letter  to  Mount  Vernon  Postoffice,  Posey  County,  Indiana. 

It  is  now  the  28th  of  May.  We  are  'all  iu  good  health.  Perhaps  you  wish 
to  know  something  more  concerning  Bethiah;  although  we  have  fared  hard 
the  season  past,  she  never  has  appeared  to  be  sorry  she  came  with  us.  I  have 
asked  if  she  was  not  sorry;  she  would  always  say,  No;  could  not  have  con- 
tented herself  from  the  children.  She  seldom  sheds  tears,  but  she  mourns  the 
loss  of  her  mother. 


439 

It  is  now  July  12th  that  I  have  come  to  finish  my  letter.  As  to  religion  in 
this  quarter,  the  Sectarians  are  numerous,  but  luke-warmness  greatly  prevails. 
I  still  believe  in  *Apollion's  coming  from  his  place  of  perdition,  Saint  Helena. 

BARNABAS  ANNABLE. 

P.  S. — Give  my  love  to  all;  hoping  these  lines  will  find  you  well,  with 
all  inquiring  friends  of  my  old  acquaintances,  paper  and  time  fails  me.     B.  A. 

From  Dea.  Ebenezer  Smith  [42]  to  his  cousin,  Dea  Dimick  Ellis,  of  Ash- 
field.  (Ebenezer  Smith's  mother.  Remember  (Ellis)  Smith  and  Dimick  Ellis's 
father,  Lieut.  John,  were  sister  and  brother.) 

Ch.\uta.uqi-a,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  10,  1820. 
Most  Respected  and  Dear  Friend  : 

Through  the  goodness  of  God  I  am  enabled  to  take  my  pen  in  hand  to 
write  to  one  whom  I  sincerely  respect  and  long  to  converse  with,  but  as  I  am 
somewhat  troubled  with  rheumatic  complaint,  I  must  convey  my  desire  in 
writing.  My  family  enjoys  good  health,  and  I  hope  this  will  find  yours  with 
the  same  blessing.  The  bearer  of  this  letter  will  inform  you  of  matters  of 
news  better  than  I  can. 

I  understand  that  my  affairs  at  Ashfield  are  very  precarious,  which  causes 
me  to  write  you.  I  sent  letters  to  brother  Gad  Elmer,  in  August,  desiring 
him  to  get  security  by  a  mortgage,  or  some  other  way  as  he  should  think 
proper,  on  some  notes  due  me.  I  conclude  that  he  never  received  them,  and 
now  I  must  desire  one  in  whom  I  can  put  the  greatest  trust  and  confidence, 

to  accept  of    my   request.      I  have  two  notes  against  Ebenezer  A ,  one 

of  S400,  and  another  of  .?35l,  and  some  other  money  to  be  paid  by  Mr.  Mal- 
lory.  The  S400  note  was  out,  I  think,  a  year  ago  last  May.  The  other  is 
out,  I  think,  next  May.  I  cannot  travel  as  well  as  my  son,  and  I  send  him 
to  Ashfield.  I  wish  the  debts  to  be  secured,  if  possible,  and  I  send  you  the 
power  of  attorney  in  case  there  is  need  of  it.  *  *  I  shall  leave  it  entirely 
with  you  to  act  your  judgment,  as  you  are  acquainted  with  Mr.  A's  circum- 
stances, and  as  you  are  one  of  the  selectmen,  and  have  lately  been  called 
upon  to  prize  brother  Gad  Elmer's  estate,  near  him.     I  do  not  wish  to  hunt 

*Mr.  Annable  regarded  Napoleon  Bonaparte  as  the  Apollion  predicted  in  Revelations 
IX,  11.  He  was  a  very  pious  man  and  a  devoted  student  of  the  bible.  About  1812  he  wrote 
and  printed  a  boolt,  in  which  he  presented  scripture  texts  and  prophecies,  which  convinced 
him  that  the  "  end  of  the  world  "  was  near.  He  l)elieved  that  he  had  solved  the  meaning  of 
all  thosetexts  referring  to  "  g-olden  candlesticks,"  "  seven  seals,"  "  falling  stars,"  "  bottomless 
pit,"  "ten  horns,"  etc., ete.  His  ardor  and  sincerity  is  evident,  from  the  fact  that  he  in- 
vested most  of  his  property  in  this  work.  But  he  failed,  as  all  religious  enthusiasts,  before 
and  since  his  time,  have  and  erer  w)7/,  who  atte  ■  pt  to  predictor  explain  natural  events 
from  the  literal  sense  of  the  bible.  The  world,  or  globe,  on  which  we  live,  is  round,  and  has 
no  "end",  and  will  continue  for  millions  of  years  in  the  future,  as  it  has  for  ages  past.  The 
"coming  of  the  Lord"  is  evidently  to  individuals,  spiritually,  "like  a  thief  in  the  night," 
in  which  "  one  is  taken  and  another  left,"  and  is  not  attended  with  any  worldly  change  or 
commotion  of  Nature.  As  the  first  Christian  era  had  been  inaugurated  nearly  three  hun- 
dred years  before  it  was  recognized,  so,  probably,  we  will  be  two  or  three  centuries  into  the 
New  Jerusalem  before  the  world  at  large  is  aware  of  it.  The  "second  advent,"  in  the  man- 
ner generally  looked  for,  is  one  of  the  most  enormous  follies  which  pious,  but  deludea  man 
has  ever  invented.  Ii  would  seem  as  if  1800  years  of  continual  diappointment  would  suffice 
to  cure  him  of  it. 


440 

any  man,  but  T  think  it  right  that  I  should  have  my  just  due.  *  *  Could 
I  see  you,  and  your  family,  and  your  parents,  one  hour,  it  would  be  of  such 
satisfaction  that  it  is  not  possible  for  me  to  dissemble,  but  I  hope  through  the 
tender  mercies  of  God,  that  we  shall  yet  see  each  other  face  to  face.  *  * 
.  There  has  been  considerable  of  an  awakening  in  these  parts.  Last  Sunday 
Elder  Wilson  baptized  nine  persons. 

I  will  satisfy  you  for  whatever  trouble  you  are  at  on  my  account. 

Very  truly  yours, 

EBE>"R  SMITH,  Jr. 

From  Dr.  David  Annable,  to  his  brother-in-law,  Dimick  Ellis.    See  p.  368. 

Sempronics,  N.  Y.,  April  7,  1824. 

Dear  Brother  :  It  has  been  a  few  days  since  I  received  your  letter.  I 
was  at  that  time  unable  to  write.  I  have  now  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to 
do  some  business.  My  complaint  was  vertigo,  or  dizziness  in  the  head;  objects 
appeared  to  turn  around.  The  vertigo  continued  until  I  was  bled  largely, 
three  pints  from  my  arm  and  three  pints  from  the  temporal  arteries.  I  am  at 
present  recovering  slowly,  but  my  head  does  not  feel  well,  and  I  think  there 
is  danger  of  another  attack  and  that  it  will  be  likely  to  terminate  in  appo- 
plexy  or  palsy.  But  I  mean  to  be  as  prudent  as  I  can  well  be,  but  it  is  hard 
to  govern  my  appetite,  agreeable  to  the  dictates  of  my  judgment,  as  that  is 
very  keen.  I  was  very  glad  to  receive  your  letter.  I  have  received  a  letter 
from  Samuel  Annable,  [his  nephew]  in  Indiana.  He  informs  me  that  our 
friends  there  are  well,  and  doing  well  in  that  country.  He  said  he  had  just 
returned  from  a  tour  of  service  in  the  legislature.  He  says  the  legislature 
are  for  Adams  for  President.  He  remains  a  bachelor.  My  family  are  well. 
Whiting  was  again  elected  constable.  *  *  It  is  a  healthy  time  here,  but 
there  are  many  sudden  deaths.  I  never  saw  the  time  before  when  death 
seemed  so  near  as  it  does  now.  I  am  in  some  hope  of  completely  recovering 
and  enjoying  my  usual  health,  which  hope,  1  suppose,  generally  continues  to 
the  end  of  life.  All  our  friends  are  well  in  this  quarter.  It  is  cold  weather 
here  now,  but  some  people  are  plowing. 

Our  two  daughters,  Lucy  and  Welthyann,  think  of  engaging  in  school 
teaching.  I  have  not  seen  your  brother  [John,  68]  since  you  left  here.  My 
wife  and  children  were  very  much  gratified  with  your  visit  and  send  their 
best  respects  to  you  and  your  family.  I  hope  you  will  write  again  soon.  I 
shall  want  more  than  ever  to  hear  from  you. 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

DAVID  ANNABLE. 

Letter  from  Elder  Barnabas  Annable  to  his  relatives  in  Ash  field. 

Mount  Vernon,  Ind.,  Oct.  11,  1825. 
Dear  Brother  and  Sister,  Dimick  and  Polly  Ellis:  With  my  uncle 
and  aunt,  if  in  the  land  of  the  living.  Although  it  is  a  long  time  since  I  have 
written  to  you,  yet  I  have  often  thought  of  you  with  due  aflFection.  Not  hav- 
ing much  news  to  write,  my  neglect  has  been  great.  Two  years  ago  my  son 
Enos  died  in  his  one  and  twentieth  year,  at  a  time  when  I  was  very  low  my- 
self with  the  fever  and  ague.    This  year,  in  July,  our  sister  Bethiah  died  after 


441 

lingering;  a  few  months  with  consumption.  Samuel  is  apparently  recovering 
from  a  liver  complaint  that  has  afflicted  him  nearly  a  year.  The  rest  of  us  are 
now  in  tolerable  health,  God  be  thanked.  We  ate  in  a  country  abounding 
with  plenteousness  of  provisions,  and  a  land  delightsome  to  till,  and  our  fruit 
trees  begin  to  bear,  so  we  should  be  happy  if  we  were  but  well  on  it  for  relig- 
ion, which  at  this  time  is  at  a  low  ebb,  yet  we  despair  not.  I  recollect  you 
wished  me  to  write  concerning  the  price  of  Congress  lands.  The  price  is  one 
dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre  paid  down,  and  there  is  a  considerable  wild  land 
in  this  county  not  bought  up. 

The  season  here  has  been  the  dryest  perhaps  ever  known  here,  but  our 
land  bears  the  drought  exceedingly  well. 

The  topic  of  conversation  here  in  these  days  is  Mr.  Robert  Owen's  Social 
System,*  now  going  into  operation  about  twelve  miles  from  this  place.  Per- 
haps you  may  have  formed  some  idea  of  the  system  by  reading  his  speeches  to 
Congress  last  March,  that  is,  if  you  have  had  them  in  your  papers.  There  is 
a  flocking  to  his  standard  of  rich  and  poor  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States 
and  many  from  Europe.  I  have  been  out  to  see  them;  went  through  the  rota- 
tions of  their  schools,  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  scholars,  and  looked  at 
the  laboriousness  of  teachers  who  were  not  allowed  to  chastise  them,  and  I  like- 
wise visited  the  Committe  Room  and  made  rather  a  favorable  estimate  of  their 
community,  to  which  the  best  enlightened  part  of  the  western  world  or  States 
are  rapidly  becoming  converted.  We  have  a  very  favorable  site  in  this  neigh- 
borhood. If  we  can  obtain  it,  I  think  we  shall  soon  go  into  operation,  and  as 
it  is  but  a  few  miles  from  the  Ohio  river  it  will  be  favorable  for  emigration. 
Should  you,  or  anybody  else,  become  converted,  please  direct  them  to  Posey 
County,  Indiana.  From  the  landing  at  Mount  Vernon  to  Mr.  Owen's  New 
Jerusalem,  so  called,  to  be  completed  in  three  or  four  years,  is  but  fourteen 
miles  from  the  Ohio  river.  Perhaps  you  may  come  to  see,  as  you  can  come 
eleven  hundred  miles  by  the  way  of  the  Ohio  river.  The  projected  institution 
is  not  a  patent  right  one,  if  it  was  your  State  would  doubtless  go  into  it.  The 
range  of  buildings  for  dwellings  are  to  be  on  four  lines  of  seventy  rods;  the  space 
way  in  the  middle  to  be  for  play-grounds— except  a  few  public  buildings.  On 
this  space  all  the  male  scholars  are  learned  to  march  and  perform  some  mili- 
tary evolutions.  Here  note.  Mr.  Owen  says,  "That  as  wars  come  through 
delirium,  it  is  therefore  necessary  for  the  enlightened  to  learn  to  defend  them- 
selves when  nations  become  crazy."  However,  he  is  sanguine  in  the  opinion 
that  the  nation  will  receive  the  light  which  surrounding  circumstances  lead 
him  in  the  way  of,  and  when  they  do,  wars  will  cease.     As  for  religion,  his 

*  Robert  Owen,  »  social  reformer,  was  born  in  North  Wales  in  1771.  He  died  in  1858. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  David  Dale,  of  Glasgow,  Scotland.  In  1823  he  came  to  the  United 
States  and  bought  20,000  acres  of  land  at  New  Harmony,  Indiana,  on  the  Wabash  river, 
where  he  started  a  communistic  scheme  which  was  quite  novel  and  popular  for  a  time,  but 
soon  failed.  In  1828  he  tried  the  same  system  in  Mexico,  by  invitation  of  the  goTernment 
of  that  country,  but  this  also  failed.  His  son,  Robert  Dale  Owen,  born  in  Glasgow  in  1801, 
lived  at  New  Harmony  for  a  long  time,  and  was  a  member  of  Congress  from  that  district  in 
1843  to  1847.  He  was  a  ready  writer  and  published  many  pamphlets  and  books,  the  most 
noted  one  was  a  spiritualistic  work  called  "The  Debatable  Land."  His  brother,  David 
Dale  Owen,  born  1807,  died  in  New  Harmony  in  1860.  He  was  a  noted  geologist  and  em- 
ployed by  the  government  in  1837  to  make  a  geological  suivey  of  Iowa,  Minnesota  and 
Wisconsin. 


442 

worship-house  doors  are  open  for  all  denominations,  Brahmins,  Mohammedans, 
or  even  Deists  not  excepted.  He  urges,  in  the  most  vehement  manner,  the 
necessity  of  charity,  and  tfius  shames  the  Christian  world.  His  love  for  man- 
kind is  apparently  great,  although  taken  to  be  a  Deist.  As  his  pamphlets  will  be 
scattered  through  the  country,  you  may  soon  know  more  about  him  and  his 
institution ;  so  of  this  no  more  at  present. 

Brother  and  sister:  I  have  not  heard  from  you  for  five  long  years.  Do 
write  me  soon,  pardoning  my  long  neglect  in  writing  to  you.  Ruth  often 
speaks  of  Polly  with  great  feelings  of  heart.  May  they  one  day  meet  where 
tears  will  be  no  more. 

Give  our  love  to  all  of  our  friends  and  acquaintances  who  may  not  have 
forgotten  us.  Our  children  would  be  remembered  to  you  and  your  children. 
Nancy  and  her  husband  are  calculating  in  a  few  months  to  join  the  New  Har- 
monian  Community,  of  which  I  have  written.  I  was  drawing  to  a  close,  but 
as  it  is  long  since  I  have  written  you  doubtless  will  read  with  patience  what 
the  present  quarter  sheet  will  contain,  whether  of  more  or  less  importance. 

I  have  latterly  attached  myself  to  a  people  in  this  quarter,  known  by  the 
name  of  Christian  Body,  who  take  the  bible,  as  it  stands,  for  a  rule  of  faith 
and  practice,  discarding  all  other  disciplines,  creeds  and  confessions  of  faith  pre- 
tended to  be  drawn  from  it.  They  are  Unitarians  in  general,  at  least  of  one 
kind.     I  therefore  preach  more  constantly  than  when  in  an  independent  state. 

Perhaps  you  would  know  as  to  the  productions  of  our  country.  We  raise 
cotton  for  our  own  use,  and  the  lasb  two  seasons  as  good  crops  of  flax  as  ever 
in  Massachusetts,  and  if  the  frost  should  hold  off,  as  we  expect  it,  two  weeks 
longer,  we  shall  raise  something  better  than  four  hundred  bushels  of  Irish 
potatoes,  which  are  a  good  article  for  Orleans  market.  We  have  likewise  a 
good  crop  of  sweet  potatoes.  The  wheat  in  this  country  is  generally  good  for 
flome  months,  when  it  is  affected  by  the  weavel  and  sometimes  wholly  de- 
voured, unless  kept  in  some  cold  state  by  threshing  it  out  and  putting  it  in 
-underground  rooms  or  immediately  flouring  it.  Wheat  is  worth  fifty  cents, 
com  commonly  twenty-five  cents  per  bushel. 

The  inhabitants  may  be  said  to  be  from  the  four  winds  or  quarters  of  the 
-world,  but  we  insensibly  shape  to  each  other's  manners,  and  the  God  of  peace 
is  helping  us  to  love  one  another.  Finally,  everything  considered,  I  think  we 
are  in  a  very  good  portion  of  the  country  for  beauty,  fertility  and  accommoda- 
tions as  to  market,  as  the  steamboat  business  is  increasing  and  carried  on 
reasonably,  which  is  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  hundred,  and  often  less.  So  I 
can  freely  invite  those  who  are  of  an  emigrating  spirit  to  inquire  for  Mount 
Vernon,  Posey  County,  Indiana,  which  i«  four  miles  from  my  cabin,  in  the 
township  of  Black. 

I  am,  with  all  due  respects,  yours, 

BAPvNABAS  ANNABLE, 

Letter  from  Elder  Barnabas  Annable  to  Dea.  Dimick  EUis,  of  Ashfield, 
in  reply  to  one  announcing  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mrs.  Polly  Annable  Ellis. 

See  page  116. 

Black  Township,  Posev  Co.,  Ind.,  June  17,  1826. 
Dear  Brother:   I  received  your  letter  the  20th  of  May,  stating  the  sor- 
Hrowfol  news  of  the  death  of  my  sister.     It  is  a  great  consolation  to  me  to 


443 

expect  that  after  her  many  painful  hours  in  a  short  life  she  changed  worlds 
for  a  glorious  resting  place  in  heaven,  where,  I  hope,  it  will  be  the  anxious 
care  of  us  all  who  survive,  so  to  live  as  that  we  may  meet  in  the  paradise  of 
our  God  when  our  time  on  earth  shall  be  out.  By  your  letter  my  uncle  and 
aunt  are  yet  alive;  may  their  last  days  be  their  best  days,  by  reason  of  a 
redoubled  life  of  holiness.  My  sister's  children  I  should  be  glad  to  see  in  this 
life,  but  cannot  expect  to.  I  hope  their  fond  mother  may  be  permitted  to 
have  a  guardian  angel's  charge  of  them,  at  least  to  lead  in  visions  of  the  night, 
convincing  them  when  they  awake  of  the  great  propriety  of  remembering 
their  Creator  in  the  days  of  their  youth. 

Brother,  the  influenza  has  been  severe  the  winter  past  with  my  family, 
yet,  through  mercy  unexpectedly,  we  are  all  alive  till  the  present.  It  affected 
all  in  the  family  but  myself.  I  was  taken  about  the  first  of  March  with  a 
complaint  that  I  had  been  accustomed  to  in  York  State,  called  dry  colic, 
operating  in  the  bowels  like  the  gout  pains  in  the  limbs.  For  about  a  month 
I  did  not  expect  to  get  well,  and  have  not  been  able  to  work  until  two  or 
three  weeks  past,  and  although  I  have  suffered  greatly  by  the  complaint  a 
number  of  years  by  spells,  at  present  I  have  no  symptoms  of  it,  God  be 
praised ! 

The  season  of  the  year  has  been  highly  favorable  for  crops.  You  doubt- 
less would  wish  to  know  how  I  like  the  country  by  this  time.  I  know  no 
reason  why  I  should  dislike  it,  for  it  is  feasible,  there  being  no  stone,  and  it 
is  very  fertile.  The  only  reason  why  produce  is  low  in  this  country  is,  and 
ever  will  be,  the  great  abundance  of  it  raised,  for  steamboat  charges  are  but 
from  seventy-five  cents  to  one  dollar  per  hundred  for  freight  from  New  Orleans 
to  this  place. 

My  wife  would  have  written,  but  her  nerves  have  failed  for  several  years, 
so  that  she  has  excused  herself  from  writing  to  any  of  her  friends,  but  wishes 
to  be  remembered  with  the  rest  of  our  family  to  you  and  yours  that  may  be 
yet  living,  and  Hannah  Lincoln,  together  with  all  who  may  remember  us.  1 
expect  you  would  wish  to  have  the  paper  filled  out,  and  am  at  a  loss  to  know 
what  news  might  entertain  you.  The  Owen  System,  of  which  I  wrote  last, 
is  still  progressing,  and  but  for  the  old  corrupt  doctrine  of  man's  not  being 
blamable  or  praiseworthy,  he  being  a  creature  of  circumstances,  being  con- 
nected with  it,  I  could  wish  it  great  success.  The  first,  or  old  community, 
like  a  beehive,  has  swarmed  twice  this  season,  and  others  are  forming  upon 
the  same  plan,  except  doctrines. 

Mr.  Owen  professes  great  love  for  the  poor  of  mankind,  and  sacrifices 
great  pains,  or  gives  himself  to  grea^  laboriousness  for  his  people,  yet  is  pru- 
dent with  his  money  or  fortune.  With  me,  he  is  a  paradox,  as  in  some  of  his 
written  addresses  there  is  language  so  arranged  as  to  answer  the  description 
of  St.  Paul's  man  of  sin,  mentioned  in  Paul's  second  epistle  to  the  Thes- 
salonians,  and  second  chapter.  He  has  about  as  much  to  say  about  Jesus 
Christ  as  Mahomed  had,  but  applies  those  Scriptures  which  the  prophets 
wrote  of  Christ,  to  himself.  I  read  his  newspaper  weekly.  He  has  capable 
writers.  His  papers  are  quite  entertaining,  and  there  is  something  apper- 
taining to  his  system  to  be  found  in  almost  all  his  newspapers.  I  think  his  sys- 
tem will  revolutionize  Europe  before  it  will  America,  therefore,  it  will  be  a 
longtime  before  I  may  expect  to  see  you  here  on  a  pilgrimage  visit,  as  the  Mahom- 


444 

edans  to  Mecca  or  Medina;  yet  I  hope  as  long  as  we  all  live  that  I  shall  have 
the  prayers  of  all  my  relations  and  friends  that  we  may  steer  our  course  so  a» 
to  meet  with  approbation  in  heaven  at  last  to  solace  our  siiuls  in  seas  of  heav- 
enly bliss. 

I  remain  your  faithful  brother, 

BARXABAS  ANNABLE. 

Skmpronius,  N.  Y.,  July  29,  1827. 

Dear  Ukcle  :  This  letter  is  to  inform  you  that  Azel  Ellis'  [209]  wife 
died  one  day  after  Independence,  and  her  child  a  week  before.  This  was  a 
great  loss  to  all  her  acquaintances,  and  especially  to  Azel,  who  appears  to^ 
mourn  above  measure  in  parting  from  his  family.  Her  illness  was  short,  being 
a  little  over  a  week,  and  previously  she  openly  manifested  her  reconciliation 
to  God.  All  the  powers  of  men  could  not  make  her  to  live,  I  suppose.  I 
attended  the  funeral;  the  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  by  dominie  Becrow. 

I  think  your  land  may  be  sold  for  ten  dollars  per  acre,  one  half  ready 
pay.  There  was  such  a  chance  a  while  ago;  probably  a  fair  price  as  lands- 
around  about  it  are  selling.  We  have  heard  of  the  extraordinary  casualty  on 
Ashfield  pond  [page  295.]  It  was  a  great  shock  to  us  all.  We  want  to  hear 
the  particulars.  We  are  hoping  and  expecting  you  to  visit  us  in  Sempronius 
next  fall  or  winter. 
To  Dimick  Ellis,  Ashtield.  CYRUS  ELLIS. 

Memorandum  of  a  trip  in  1828,  by  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis,  from  Ashfield  tO' 
Sempronius,  N.  Y.,  and  return. 

Ashfield,  Jan.  2,  1828. 

At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  took  the  stage  for  Sempronius,  New- 
York,  arrived  at  Smith's  Tavern,  in  Cheshire,  in  the  evening,  and  started  from 
there  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Arrived  at  Troy  in  the  afternoon. 
Crossed  the  Hudson  River  on  the  ice,  on  foot,  and  arrived  at  Albany  the 
same  night,  and  put  up  at  Milliken's  Inn  for  the  night,  and  paid  four  dollara 
for  a  passage  in  the  stage  to  Utica.  Left  Albany  at  ten  o'clock  the  next  day 
for  Utica;  arrived  there  at  seven  o'clock  the  next  morning,  and  went  from 
there  to  New  Hartford.  The  6th,  set  out  in  the  stage  for  Marcellus  Village; 
arrived  there  the  7th,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Found  the  traveling 
very  bad,  snow  all  gone,  and  the  frost  all  out  of  the  ground.  Visited  Benja- 
min Rhoades.  The  8tb,  left  Mr.  Rhoades  and  went  to  Auburn.  The  9th,  left 
Auburn  and  travelled  to  Sempronius  on  foot,  and  found  my  friends  in  health; 
and  went  from  Sempronius  to  Mentz  and  visited  Lieut.  Edward  Annable  and 
wife.  Saw  them  at  their  daughter's,  Mrs.  Wheaton.  [See  page  94.  J  From 
there  went  to  Sennet  and  visited  Elder  Twiss  and  family.  [Page  94]  Returned 
to  Auburn  and  went  into  the  State  Prison.  Saw  the  prisoners  at  work,  in 
their  different  departments,  numbering  five  hundred  and  thirty  one  males  and 
seventeen  females,  and  returned  again  to  Sempronius.  February,  the  2l8t, 
left  Sempronius  and  came  to  Mr.  Rhoades,  in  Marcellus.  The  22d,  took  the 
stage  at  Marcellus  Village  for  New  Hartford;  found  the  travelling  very  bad, 
and  arrived  at  New  Hartford  the  23d;  at  four  o'clock  P.  M.  left  New  Hartford 
for  Paris,  and  stayed  at  Daniel  Lanterman's  the  24th.  The  25th,  left  Paris- 
and  took  the  stage  at  Utica  for  Albany.  Arrived  at  Albany  the  2Gth  at  five 
o'clock,  P.  M.      The  27 tb,  left  Albany  for  Pittstown;  arrived  there  in  the 


445 

afternoon  and  stayed  over  night  at  my  son's,  Richard  Ellis.  The  28th,  left 
Pittstown  and  arrived  at  North  Adams.  The  29th,  left  Adams  in  the  stage 
and  crossed  Hoosack  Mountain,  found  the  traveling  very  bad;  arriv^ed  at 
Charlemont  in  the  evening.  March  Ist,  left  Charlemont  and  arrived  at  home 
at  five  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  found  my  family  all  well. 

Letters  from  Thomas  Lincoln,  of  Springville,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  his 
uncle,  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis,  and  his  youngest  sister,  Annie,  of  Ashfield.  Mr. 
Lincoln's  mother,  Jane  Ellis,  was  a  sister  of  Dea.  Ellis,  and  when  she  sud- 
denly died  in  1812,  in  western  New  York,  the  latter  went  there  and  took  two 
of  the  children,  Thomas  and  Annie,  to  his  home  in  Ashfield.  In  1825  young 
Thomas,  not  being  pleased  with  his  prospects  in  that  rather  forbidding  coun- 
try, somewhat  unceremoniously,  it  is  said,  departed.    Seepages  107  to  110. 

Spkingvillk,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  10,  1831. 
Dear  L'kole:  Once  more,  by  the  leave  of  Divine  Providence,  I  take 
my  pen  in  hand  to  inform  your  honor  of  my  present  situation.  I  am  in  pretty 
good  health,  and  hope  this  will  find  you  and  my  friends  in  Ashfield  enjoying 
the  same.  I  am  still  a  single  man  and  living  in  the  village  of  Springville.  I 
make  my  home  at  a  public  house  where  I  have  lived  for  about  two  years.  I 
give  §1  75  per  week  for  my  board,  and  the  proprietor  is  a  great  friend  of  mine. 
But  this  is  not  living  much  as  when  I  lived  with  you.  Ob,  what  a  kind  parent 
you  was,  and  you  have  done  all  for  me  that  a  parent  could  for  his  own  chil- 
dren, but  I  cannot  express  my  feelings  on  this  paper  as  I  would  if  I  could 
come  and  see  you.  I  work  at  my  trade,  and  work  by  the  job.  I  have  just 
commenced  to  build  a  meeting-house  which  will  take  me  until  next  spring  to 
complete  it.  Give  my  respects  to  your  children  and  all  who  inquire  for  me. 
When  I  look  back  upon  the  days  I  spent  with  you  and  your  children,  it  seems 
but  a  few  weeks  ago.     Time  rolls  swiftly  on.     Please  write  as  soon  as  you 

get  my  letter. 

THOMAS  LINCOLN. 

p.  S. — Please  convey  these  few  lines  to  my  sister.  Dear  sister:  I  long 
to  see  you  very  much  and  all  my  relatives.  If  I  have  my  health  I  will  come 
and  see  you  within  one  year.  I  have  been  sick  some,  and  have  had  many 
troubles  and  trials.  *  »  *  Write  as  soon  as  you  can,  and  give 
my  respects  to  all.  T.  L. 

Springville,  N.  Y„  Jan.  12,  1833. 
Dear  Sister:  I  have  written  to  uncle  Dimick  several  times,  and  have 
addressed  a  few  lines  to  you  in  each  of  them,  and  have  not  had  but  one  letter 
from  you  and  one  from  him.  Eight  years  have  passed  and  gone  since  I  left 
your  town,  dear  sister.  Do  you  remember  the  last  time  I  saw  you  I  told  you 
that  I  should  not  see  you  again  in  one  year.  You  did  not  seem  to  believe  it, 
but  the  year  has  come  and  gone  and  gone  again,  and  the  hour  of  meeting  has 
not  yet  come,  and  perhaps  it  never  will  whilst  we  live  on  earth.  *  *  * 
Dear  sister,  I  cannot  give  any  encouragement  as  to  when  I  can  come  to  see 
you,  as  my  business  is  such  that  I  cannot  leave  at  present.  I  have  taken 
another  meeting-house  to  build,  and  have  to  finish  it  by  the  first  day  of 
August  next.     I  hope  these  few  lines  will  find  you  well  and  enjoying  the 


446 

sweet  comforts  of  life,  and  that  you  may  receive  tbem  as  a  token  of  friend- 
ship. I  am  still  a  single  man.  (iive  my  respects  to  uncle  Asher's  folks  and 
Jane,  and  all  others  of  my  cousins,  and  all  who  ever  knew  me. 

Yours  with  respect, 

THOMAS  LINCOLN. 

P.  S. — A  few  lines  to  my  uncle  Dimick  Ellis.  Dear  sir:  I  have  written 
one  or  two  letters  to  you  and  got  no  answer.  I  hope  you  have  not  forgotten 
me,  and  especially  when  you  call  your  little  family  around  you  to  ofiFer  up 
your  prayers  to  Almighty  God.  I  am  not  a  professor  of  religion,  but  I  am  a 
well-wisher  of  the  cause  and  help  to  support  the  Gospel  here.  Last  spring 
there  was  a  protracted  meeting  here  for  18  days,  and  a  great  reformation  fol- 
lowed. «  *  *  Dear  uncle,  while  you  are  reading  these  lines  over 
think  of  the  days  that  have  passed  and  gone  when  I  was  one  in  your  family, 
and  whether  you  did  your  duty  or  not  in  offering  your  prayers  for  me.  I  can  say 
for  one  that  I  do  think  you  did,  and  that  you  gave  your  best  advice  to  me. 
But  I  was  young  then,  and  did  not  always  know  what  was  best.  I  shall  not 
be  able  to  come  and  see  you  till  next  fall.  *  »  *  j  have  built  me 
a  shop  and  got  a  good  stock  of  tools.  I  send  my  warmest  love  and  best 
respects  to  you  and  your  familj',  and  to  all  who  ever  knew  me.  Please  send 
me  a  letter  as  soon  as  you  receive  this,  with  all  the  deaths,  marriages,  etc. 

Yours  with  much  respect, 

THOMAS  LINCOLN. 

From  Fernando  C.  Annable.  youngest  child  of  Lieut.  Edward  Annable,  to 
Dea.  Dimick  Ellis,  of  Ashtield.  See  pages  96  and  390.  Mr.  Annable  settled  in 
Almena,  Mich.,  one  year  after  the  data  of  this  letter,  where  he  died  in  1S86.. 

Mbntz,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  24,  1835. 
Highly  Respected  Uncle:  Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Cyrus  Alden, 
who  condescends  to  be  the  bearer  of  this  letter,  I  have  an  opportunity  of  writ- 
ing to  you.  The  most  important  news  which  I  have  to  communicate  is  the 
death  of  my  mother.  She  died  on  the  first  of  February  of  an  inflammatory 
complaint  which  was  quite  prevalent  through  this  country  last  winter,  and 
generally  fatal  to  old  people.  The  first  alarming  symptom  of  her  disease  was 
a  severe  ague  chill  nine  days  before  her  death,  and  M'hen  the  chill  subsided  the 
succeeding  fever  deprived  her  of  her  senses,  and  she  remained  delirious  except 
at  short  intervals,  during  the  remainder  of  her  sickness.  Her  sufferings  were 
rather  more  than  is  generally  experienced  by  old  people  in  their  last  illness.  Her 
hope  in  the  Redeemer  of  souls  was  unusually  lively,  and  at  intervals  of  sanity 
was  always  expressed.  Father  lives  in  Marcellus,  enjoying  good  health,  but 
has  lost  almost  all  his  faculties.  I  have  recently  heard  from  Anna  and  that 
she  is  in  a  dangerous  situation  as  to  health,  with  small  prospects  of  recovery. 
The  rest  of  the  friends  are  well,  as  far  as  I  know.  I  have  commenced  keeping 
house  in  the  neighborhood  in  which  I  was  brought  up,  and  have  postponed 
my  intended  removal  to  Michigan  for  the  present.  Betsey's  health  has  been 
very  discouraging  most  of  the  time  since  we  were  at  Ashfield  —the  cause  of  my 
settling  here — but  is  something  more  encouraging  now.  Let  me  hope,  sir, 
that  the  opportunity  may  yet  occur  when  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  here,  when  I  shall  have  a  better  opportunity  of  expressing  my  feelings 


447 

towards  you  for  the  kind  reception  you  gave  me  when  I  was  in  Ashfield.  1 
perceive,  as  I  am  more  and  more  deprived  of  the  society  of  my  parents,  my 
affections  increase  towards  those  with  whom  they  were  familiar  and  esteemed. 
The  evening  is  far  spent,  and  I  believe  that  I  have  communicated  the  news  of 
importance.  I  wish  you  to  give  my  respects  to  aunt  and  each  member  of  your 
family,  and  believe  me, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

F.  C.  ANNABLE. 

From  Samuel  Annable,  son  of  Barnabas,  to  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis,  of  Ashfield. 

Yankee  Settlement,  Posey  County,  Ind.,  Dec,  15,  1839. 

Dear  Unclk:  Agreeable  to  brother  Elisha  Phillips'  wish,  I  cheerfully 
undertake  to  answer  your  letter  to  him,  bearing  date  September  14th,  and 
would  have  written  sooner,  but  at  the  date  of  your  letter  I  was  on  an  expedi- 
tion to  Iowa,  Wisconsin  and  the  northern  part  of  Illinois,  under  Mr.  David 
Dale  Owen,  who  was  employed  by  the  government  as  principal  agent  to  ex- 
plore those  regions  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  localities  of  the  mineral 
lands,  from  which  expedition  I  have  but  just  returned.  It  affords  me  great 
satisfaction  to  see  a  letter  from  under  your  hand.  I  have  often  thought  of 
you  in  connection  with  the  scenes  of  my  childhood,  and  thought  it  would 
afford  me  great  satisfaction  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  place  of  my  nativity,  and  to 
my  esteemed  uncle,  but  I  am  afraid  that  circumstances  will  never  favor  such 
an  undertaking.  I  have  often  thought  about  writing,  but  the  uncertainty  of 
your  being  in  the  land  of  the  livinp  would  deter  me.  It  appears  by  your  let- 
ter that  you  have  never  been  fully  informed  with  regard  to  the  mortality  in. 
my  father's  family,  and  I  am  now  unable  to  give  you  the  precise  date,  having 
had  a  house  burned  in  which  the  records  were  consumed,  and  I  am  not  able 
to  recollect  them. 

It  was  eleven  years  ago  last  summer  that  an  tmusual  fever  for  this  coun- 
try broke  out  in  our  family  in  the  month  of  June.  My  mother  was  the  first 
who  fell  a  victim  to  it,  sister  Nancy  next,  then  brother  David  and  Bromley, 
then  sisters  Eliza  and  Rhoda— all  in  the  space  of  six  weeks.  I  had  the  same 
fever,  but  through  the  mercy  of  God,  recovered  after  a  long  and  severe  illness. 
Three  others  of  the  family  had  it  and  recovered.  It  was  confined  principally 
to  our  family,  but  few  of  our  neighbors  having  it.  As  to  the  cause,  there  was 
a  diversity  of  opinion.  Some  thought  the  disease  was  brought  from  New 
Orleans  in  some  articles  of  clothing  which  my  brother  Bartlet  (who  had  been 
trading  down  the  river  the  winter  previous)  had  brought  with  him.  Various 
other  causes  were  assigned.  SuflBce  it  to  say,  it  was  a  very  unusual  occurrence 
for  this  country,  and  you  may  be  sure  a  very  trying  season. 

My  father  died  the  ninth  of  May,  1S35,  after  suffering  for  something  more 
than  a  year  with  pulmonary  consumption.  My  brother  David  died  in  October 
1836  of  bilious  fever.  Brother  Bartlet  has  gone  to  Texas.  I  have  had  no 
letter  from  him  since  last  winter.  He  was  much  pleased  with  the  country, 
had  obtained  2,750  acres  of  land,  was  unmarried.  This  is  about  all  the  infor- 
mation I  could  get  from  him.  [See  page  367].  I  have  but  one  brother  left  itt- 
the  country.  That  is  Russel,  the  youngest.  He  is  a  young  man,  about 
twenty-three,  rather  an  odd  fellow,  something  like  old  uncle  Thomas  Annable. 


448 

Sister  Electa,  Elisha  Phillips'  wife,  is  still  living;  her  eldest  son  and  daughter 
are  married  and  have  children.  She  has  four  other  children  living,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters.  Sister  Fanny  is  married  to  a  man  by  the  name  of  VVil- 
boum,  and  has  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter.  [See  page  367].  I  have 
been  married  only  seven  years;  have  a  very  agreeable  companion;  we  have 
had  but  one  child,  which  we  lost.  My  wife's  maiden  name  was  Davis.  I  am 
proprietor  of  the  farm  on  which  father  settled;  have  160  acres  of  land,  about 
half  under  good  improvement;  an  orchard  of  bearing  fruit  trees;  have  built 
me  a  comfortable  framed  house  and  bam,  and  we  are  generally  blessed  with 
plenty  of  the  good  things  of  this  world,  though  we  have  had  to  labor  under 
considerable  embarrassments. 

With  regard  to  religion,  I  would  like  to  say  something,  feeling  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  cause.  There  is  a  great  proportion  of  the  population  who  are 
religious,  and  a  considerable  degree  of  religious  excitement  prevails  at  times, 
but  the  people  are  so  cut  up  into  different  denominations  and  manifest,  at 
times,  so  much  of  party  spirit,  as  I  fear,  seriously  to  affect  the  prosperity  of  Zion. 
The  denominations  are  Methodists,  what  are  called  Regular  Baptists,  General 
Baptists,  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  a  few  Congregationalists,  and  those  who 
style  their  church  by  no  other  name  than  that  of  Christian.  Of  the  latter,  I, 
my  wife,  brother  E.  Phillips  and  wife,  and  brother  John  Wilbourn  and  his 
wife  are  members.  As  a  religious  society,  we  seem  to  be  every  where  evil 
spoken  of ;  by  some  called  heretics,  unitarians,  Campbellites,  reformers,  and 
by  some  disorganizers,  etc.  But  we  wish  to  take  the  bible  for  the  man  of  our 
counsel,  and  trust  in  God  that  if  we  live  agreeable  to  its  dictate  it  will  go  well 
with  us;  without  so  doing,  we  feel  assured  that  it  would  go  ill  with  us,  no 
matter  to  what  church  we  may  have  attached  ourselves. 

I  would  remark,  in  relation  to  health,  that  it  is  a  general  time  of  good 
health  in  this  section  of  country,  though  it  was  very  sickly  in  parts  of  the 
country  I  traveled  over  in  the  fall,  particulerly  Iowa.  I  had  always  heard 
Iowa  spoken  of  as  a  very  healthy  country,  but  I  think  it  has  been  much  over- 
rated. Fever,  I  think,  must  prevail  to  a  great  extent,  owing  to  the  swamps 
with  which  the  country  abounds. 

I  wish  you  to  write  and  let  us  know  that  you  have  received  this.     Give 
what  information  you  can  about  such  things  as  you  think  most  interesting, 
and  should  we  never  meet  in  life,  pray  God  that  we  have  the  happiness  to 
'  meet  and  enjoy  each  other's  society  in  a  happier  state  of  existence. 

Your  affectionate  nephew, 

SAMUEL  ANNABLE. 


Letter  from  Dear,  ftichard  Ellis  [239]  to  his  brother,  Lewis  Ellis,  of  Otisco 
— now  Belding,  Mich. 

PiTTSTOWN,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  2d,  1844. 

DBA.R  Brother  :  I  take  my  pen  to  answer  your  letter.  I  have  delayed 
writing  to  hear  from  Ashtield.  Edwin  [llanney]  and  wife  have  been  to  A., 
and  returned  yesterday.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Button,  January  29. 
[See  page  388.]  ^Ve  are  all  well  here  and  father  and  mother,  in  A.,  also. 
Tell  Abner  Wright  and  Hiram  Green  that  their  friends  here  are  well.  [Messrs. 
W.  and  G.  removed,  in  1843,  from  Pittstown  to  Otisco,  and  settled  on  farms 


449 

adjoining  Lewis  and  Richard  Ellis.]  Kingsley  Slade  and  Miss  Martin  were 
married  January  30;  also  Michael  Weters  and  Emeline  Gibbs  last  Tuesday. 
[Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  settled  in  Otisco,  in  1845,  where  they  now  live.]  You 
want  to  know  if  we  are  coming  to  Michigan  this  spring.  I  will  give  you  a 
direct  answer.  We  shall  come.  We  have  had  a  cold  winter  and  the  most 
sleighing  I  ever  knew.  Abner's  brother,  Norman,  was  married  to  Miss  Maria 
Hydom  in  January.  He  and  Elder  Mosher  intend  to  go  out  to  Michigan  in 
the  spring.  [They  both  settled  in  Otisco  the  next  year.]  Job  Gibbs,  I  think, 
will  come.  He  talks  of  taking  a  thrashing  machine  along.  It  works  by  horse- 
power, and  it  is  said  that  with  it  three  hands  can  thrash  one  hundred  bushels 
a  day.  I  should  have  started  last  fall  with  John,  but  could  not  then  get 
father  and  mother  started.  [Dr.  John  Ellis  located  in  Grand  Rapids,  Mich., 
in  the  fall  of  1843.]  I  have  sold  my  place  here  and  turned  myself,  so  as  to 
be  ready  to  go  this  spring.  I  will  bring  the  nails  you  wrote  for.  I  have  had 
built  a  very  stout  wagon.  I  think  it  will  carry  one  hundred  bushels  of  wheat 
anywhere.  Volney  Belding  is  in  Ashfield.  We  expect  him  here  soon.  Give 
my  respects  to  all  our  friends.     We  want  to  see  them  all. 

I  remain  your  brother, 

RICHARD  ELLIS. 

Letters  from  Dea.  Dimick  Ellia  to  Cyrus  Ellis,  of  West  Niles,  N.  Y., 
near  Moravia. 

Otisco,  Mich.,  March  9.  1850. 

Dear  Nephew:  I  received  your  letter  of  2d  of  January,  and  meant  to 
have  answered  it  before  this  time.  I  was  much  pleased  on  receiving  it,  being 
the  first  information  that  I  had  received  from  you  since  you  left  this  place. 
Was  glad  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival  at  your  home,  and  that  you  found  your 
family  in  health.  In  regard  to  my  own  health,  it  is  very  good  and  has  been, 
with  but  little  exception,  ever  since  you  left  here.  My  wife's  health  has  been 
poor.  She  has  been  much  troubled  with  rheumatism.  She  is  more  comfort- 
able now.  Lewis'  health  is  good;  his  wife  has  been  sick  with  the  ague  and 
fever,  but  is  better  now.  The  rest  of  the  family  are  well.  Richard  and  fam- 
ily are  well;  he  and  sons  are  at  work  in  the  pinery;  has  bought  him  a  span  of 
horses  and  has  paid  for  them  in  drawing  saw  mill  logs;  gave  $230  for  the 
horses  and  harness.  Tiberius  Belding  and  JFamily  are  well  and  doing  well. 
Deacon  John  Shaw  [247]  and  family  are  well.  Stephen  Wilson  is  married 
again;  is  well  and  family.  The  wheat  crop  last  season  fell  short  almost  one-half 
of  a  full  crop.  Corn  and  potato  crops  good.  Lewis  and  Richard  sowed  nearly 
60  acres  of  wheat  last  fall;  it  looked  very  well  in  the  fall.  The  winter  past  has 
been  very  moderate;  snow  not  over  two  or  three  inches  deep.  I  will  now 
proceed  to  write  you  a  copy  of  the  record  of  your  grandfather  EUis'  family, 
agreeable  to  your  request.         *        *        [See  page  19,  Nos.  15  and  16]. 

You  will  perceive  by  this  family  record  that  I  am  the  only  surviving  per- 
son of  your  grandfather's  family,  and,  no  doubt,  before  many  years  are  past 
away  that  I  shall  go  the  way  of  all  the  earth.  Solemn  thought;  and  when  I  cast 
my  thoughts  back  to  the  years  of  my  childhood  and  youth  and  middle  age  life, 
it  fills  my  mind  with  solemnity.  I  can  truly  say  that  one  generation  hath  passed 
away  and  another  come,  and  the  generation  that  I  belonged  to  has  mostly  passed 
away  and  another  hath  come.  I  hope  that  when  it  shall  be  ours  to  die  that  we 


45° 

shall  be  prepared  to  meet  in  another  and  better  world,  where  there  ia  no 
gin  and,  of  course,  no  sorrow.  There  has  been  quite  a  gold  excitement  here 
of  late.  There  has  been  a  man  [Michael  O'Connell]  from  this  place  to  Cali- 
fornia and  returned  home  the  winter  past,  and  brought  honie  something  like 
$18,000,  and  there  has  been  a  number  of  other  men  started  from  this  place 
of  late  for  California.  Thomas  and  Chandler  Belding  [251  and  253]  have  both 
.  gone.  I  wish  you,  as  soon  as  convenient  after  you  receive  this  letter,  to 
write  to  me  about  your  mother's  health,  and  what  you  know  about  brother 
John  Ellis'  widow  and  children,  and  likewise,  what  you  know  about  your 
uncle  Lincoln's  children,  and  be  pleased  to  receive  for  yourself  and  family  my 
best  wishes.  Your  aunt  sends  her  respects  to  you  and  family,  likewise  Lewis 
and  wife  send  theirs.  DIMICK  ELLIS. 

Otisco,  Mich.,  February  19th,  1853. 
Dr.4R  Nephew:  After  a  long  delay  I  take  pen  in  hand  to  answer  your 
letter  of  December  last,  in  which  you  informed  me  of  the  death  of  Hannah 
Lincoln  [see  page  180]  and  of  the  Ul  health  of  Marilla  Lincoln.  It  seems  that 
the  greatest  part  of  the  Lincoln  family  are  dead.  There  were  ten  of  them,  and 
I  believe  there  are  but  three  or  four  of  them  now  living,  two  sons,  Thomas 
and  Benjamin.  Thomas  is  married,  has  eight  children  and  lives  in  Springville, 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  Benjamin  is  now  in  Otisco,  an  unfortunate  man,  forty  years 
old;  has  been  out  of  health  five  or  six  years  with  the  rheumatism.  You  wrote 
that  you,  together  with  many  others  in  Xew  York  State,  were  engaged  to  get 
the  Maine  liquor  law  passed.  I  hope  you  will  see  it  become  a  law  in  your 
State,  for  1  am  well  assured  that  it  would  be  a  great  benefit  to  the  inhabitants 
thereof.  There  are  many  people  in  Michigan  engaged  in  the  temperance 
cause.  I  have  been  engaged  in  that  cause  twenty-two  years  past,  and  feel  now 
the  same  anxiety  to  see  it  prosper  that  I  ever  have.  I  have  ever  considered 
it  to  be  one  of  the  best  of  causes.  I  have  learned  of  late  that  the  legislature 
of  Michigan  has  enacted  a  law  similar  to  the  Maine  law,  and  I  understand  it 
is  to  be  submitted  to  the  people  whether  it  shall  become  a  law  or  not.  It  is 
believed  that  the  people  will  vote  in  favor  of  it.  My  own  health  is  good.  I 
have  entered  my  77th  year.  My  wife's  health  is  very  poor.  Lewis  and  the 
rest  of  the  family  are  welL  Richard  and  family  are  well.  Tiberius  Belding 
and  family  are  well.  Jane  Shaw  and  family  are  well,  and  it  is  a  very  healthy 
time  at  present  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Mr.  Moseman,  who  lived  in  Ionia, 
and  who  formerly  lived  in  your  town  of  West  Niles,  N.  Y.,  died  a  few  weeks 
past.  We  have  had  a  very  moderate  winter  so  far,  had  but  little  snow. 
Wheat  sells  at  Grand  Rapids  for  75  cents,  com  at  home  for  50  cents,  oats  for 
37i  cents.  Lewis  sowed  last  fall  37  acres  of  wheat.  He  is  getting  lumber  to 
build  him  a  new  house.  I  wish  you  to  write  a  letter  to  me  as  soon  as  conven- 
ient after  receiving  this,  more  particulars  about  your  family.  Have  any  of 
them  settled  in  the  world,  and  if  so,  where  do  they  live?  And  write  how  your 
mother  does  [71]  and  how  her  children  do  and  where  they  live,  and  likewise 
how  your  uncle  John's  widow  does  [69]  and  where  she  lives  and  what  you 
know  about  her  children.  Give  my  respects  to  your  wife  and  family,  and 
like  wise'to  your  mother,  and  to  your  aunt  Ellis,  and  to  all  inquiring  friends, 
and  be  pleased  to  accept  for  yourself  and  family  my  best  regards. 

DIMICK  ELLIS. 
To  Cyrus  Ellis,  Esq. 


451 

Letter  from  Russel  Phillips'  daughter  [see  page  102]  to  Dea.  Dimick 
Ellis,  of  Otisco,  (now  Belding)  Mich.  Her  mother,  Rhoda  (Williams)  Phillips, 
was  a  niece  of  Dimick  Ellis.  Rhoda's  mother,  Mrs.  Hannah  Ellis  Williams, 
was  Dimick  Ellis'  eldest  sister. 

Racine,  Wis.,  March  24th,  1833. 

Dkak  Uncle:  By  the  request  of  my  parents  and  from  the  remembrance 
of  you,  I  am  induced  to  perform  the  agreeable  task  of  writing  to  you.  Allow 
me  first  to  introduce  myself  as  Elizabeth,  the  youngest  of  Russel  and  Rhoda 
Phillips'  family.  The  memory  of  myself  has  probably  passed  from  your  mind, 
but  that  of  my  parents  must  still  remain  fresh.  You  have  probably  before 
this  heard  of  our  removal  to  this  State.  We  came  here  in  the  summer  of  1848. 
From  that  time  until  last  summer  my  parents  made  their  home  with  my 
brother  John,  who  lives  about  a  hundred  miles  from  here  in  a  farming  place. 
Last  summer  they  removed  to  this  ciiy  where  they  have  since  remained. 
Since  my  parents'  residence  in  this  State  their  health  has  been  very  good.  My 
father  has  had  several  attacks  of  the  fever  and  ague,  which  has  affected  him 
very  much,  but  mother's  health  has  been  better  since  she  came  west  than  it 
was  east. 

While  I  have  been  writing,  your  letter  has  been  brought  in.  It  was  joy- 
fully received,  I  can  assure  you.  I  should  have  written  ere  this  had  I  known 
where  you  lived.  And  the  knowledge  that  we  have  obtained  came  from  Mr. 
McDonald;  and  now  that  we  know  that  you  are  alive  and  well,  and  also 
where  you  live,  I  can  finish  it  with  all  pleasure,  and  tell  you  about  the  situa- 
tion of  my  parents'  family.  Of  the  family  of  eight,  they  are  all  still  living  and 
well.  Hannah  Phillips  [see  page  102]  and  husband  live  in  the  county  where 
my  brother  John  lives.  They  have  a  family  of  four.  John's  wife  is  unknown 
to  you.  He  has  a  family  of  three.  Both  John  and  Flowers  are  farming,  and 
possess  very  valuable  farms  apiece.  Monroe  is  married  and  has  one  child. 
Himself  and  family  reside  in  Lockport,  N.  Y.  He  is  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness. Galusha  is  also  married  and  lives  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.  Allan  and  wife 
still  remain  in  Ashfield,  Mass.  Mary  is  married  to  a  Mr.  Yout.  They  reside 
in  this  city,  have  a  family  of  three.  Sarah  is  also  married  to  a  Mr.  Hill;  her- 
self and  only  child  are  now  staying  with  me,  her  husband  having  gone  south. 
■  Our  family  and  our  families  family  have  not  only  been  blessed  with  life  and 
good  health,  but  prosperity,  which,  taking  all  things  into  consideration,  is 
uncommon  for  so  large  a  family  as  ours.  We  are  very  pleasantly  situated  in 
this  place,  and  like  living  here  very  well.  Mother  and  father  send  their  love 
to  you  and  would  lik3  to  see  one  and  all  of  you  at  any  time.  We  would  like 
to  know  about  the  death  of  uncle  Asher  Belding.  I  wish  you  would  visit  us, 
uncle  Dimick;  I  remember  you  very  distinctly.  I  remember  you  as  being  a 
large,  corpulent  man,  with  a  round,  smiling  face,  hair  that  was  white  with 
the  frosts  of  age,  and  a  stiff  white  beard,  which  you  said  was  good  to  make 
childrens'  cheeks  red;  consequently,  when  I  was  a  child  you  used  to  put  it  to 
the  test,  and  many  a  time  my  cheeks  have  smarted  keenly  from  its  brushing. 
Sometime  ago  w«  received  a  letter  from  uncle  Apollos  WiUiams  [see  page  104], 
stating  the  death  of  grandfather  and  uncle  Edward.  I  answered  it  and  re- 
ceived in  return  one  from  his  son,  which  I  enclose,  that  you  may  peruse  it. 
Please  return  it  when  you  write.     My  love  to  all. 

Your  niece, 

ELIZABETH  A.  PHILLIPS. 


452 

T/etter  from  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis,  of  Otisco,  now  Beldiog,  Mich. ,  to  Cyrus 
ElUs  [233]. 

Otisco,  Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  7,  1856. 

Dear  Nephew:  I  now  take  pen  in  band  to  inform  you  of  my  present 
health,  which  is  as  ^oocl  as  it  was  when  I  left  you  last  spring;;  on  my  way  to 
Massachusetts;  likewise,  all  your  friends  in  this  part  of  Michigan  are  as  well 
as  usual.  I  will  next  proceed  to  write  you  about  my  journey  to  Massachu- 
setts, and  of  my  safe  return  home  to  Michigan.  You  recollect,  no  doubt,  car- 
rying and  leaving  me  and  the  young  man  that  was  with  me  to  the  railroad,  near 
Benjamin's  Khoadcs.  I  took  the  cars  and  arrived  at  Spring6eld,  Mass.,  at  9 
o'clock  p.  m.  The  young  man  left  me  at  Albany.  I  stayed  at  Springfield 
over  night.  Next  morning  I  took  the  cars  for  Greenfield,  then  the  stage  for 
Shelburne  Falls;  arrived  here  at  about  2  o'clock  p.  m.  I  called  on  Dr.  Milo 
Wilson ;  found  him  and  family  well.  I  stayed  at  Shelburne  several  days,  then 
went  to  AshHeld  to  your  uncle  Jesse  Ranney's;  found  them  comfortable  for 
people  of  their  age.  I  then  visited  about  among  old  friends.  There  are  but 
few  persons  living  in  the  school  district  where  I  used  to  live  when  you  lived 
with  me.  Your  uncle  Jesse  Ranney  and  family,  David  fielding  and  widow 
Perry  and  one  son,  I  believe,  are  all  that  live  in  the  district  now.  The  rest 
have  died  or  have  moved  away.  Surely,  one  generation  passeth  away  and 
another  cometh.  There  are  not  so  many  inhabitants  in  Ashrteld  now  as  there 
were  when  you  lived  there.  I  went  to  South  Hadley  and  saw  the  Mt.  Holy- 
oke  Female  Institution,  founded  by  Miss  Mary  Lyon;  saw  the  monument 
raised  to  her  momory  by  her  pupils.  The  institution  is  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion. The  pupils  frequently  go  to  Buckland  to  see  the  place  where  she  was 
bom.  Truly,  she  was  an  extraordinary  woman,  and  her  name  will  go  down 
to  posterity  as  such.  Shelburne  Falls  has  become  quite  a  village;  there  are 
three  meeting  houses  there ;  one  Baptist,  one  Congregationalist,  and  one 
Methodist.  There  is  a  large  knife  factory  on  the  Buckland  side  of  the  Falls. 
There  is  a  flourishing  academy  on  the  Shelburn  side,  and  it  has  become  a 
place  of  considerable  business.  Lewis  [241]  and  wife  came  to  Massachusetts 
about  the  middle  of  October  and  stayed  until  the  3rd  day  of  December,  when 
they  returned,  together  with  myself,  to  Michigan.  We  stopped  at  Detroit 
and  stayed  at  John's  one  day  and  two  nights.  Found  him  well  and  doing 
well.  We  returned  home  the  9th  day  of  December  all  well.  I  wish  you,  on 
receiving  this  letter,  to  write  an  answer  immediately.  Give  my  respects  to 
your  mother  and  to  your  uncle  John's  children  [68],  and  receive  for  yourself 
and  family  my  best  wishes  for  your  and  their  present  and  future  health  and 

happiness. 

From  your  afl'ectionate  uncle. 

To  Cyrus  Ellis,  Esq.  DIMICK  EL"LIS. 

Letter  from  Dr.  John  Ellis  (243)  on  the  death  of  his  brother,  Dea.  Rich- 
ard Ellis,  (239)  of  fielding,  Mich. 

New  York  City,  March  27,  1878. 

Dear  Nephew:  Your  telegram  came  at  one  o'clock  this  morning  announc- 
ing the  death  of  my  dear  brother,  your  father.  It  was  not  unexpected,  for 
the  symptoms  you  have  written  of  in  cases  like  his  denote  approaching  disso- 
lation  of  the  material  body.    Allow  me  to  sympathize  and  console  with  you 


453 

in  this,  our  affliction.  A  kind  husband,  father  and  grandfather  has  departed 
and  left  your  little  circle;  a  dear  brother  from  our  older  circle;  a  good  citizen, 
an  earnest  and  sincere  Christian  in  the  good  providence  of  the  Lord  has  moved 
on  and  entered  the  real,  the  living  world.  His  past  life — useful,  earnest  and 
true — is  an  assurance  to  us  that  what  is  our  loss  is  his  gain.  He  has  simply 
gone  before  us,  for  death  in  this  world  is  but  birth  into  the  next,  for  as  the 
material  body  dies,  the  spiritual  body  is  raised.  As  the  material  eyes  close  on 
friends  in  this  world  the  spiritual  eyes  open  amid  friends  in  the  spiritual 
world.  In  a  very  short  time — a  few  years  at  most — we  must  all  follow  him. 
How  short  is  life. 

After  receiving  your  dispatch  I  lay  awake  three  or  four  hours,  dwelling 
in  thought,  amid  the  days  of  my  childhood,  youth  and  adult  life;  amid  scenes 
of  joy  and  gladness,  and  sorrow  and  sadness.  Such  is  life  in  this  world.  Let 
us  all  strive  to  do  our  duty  faithfully  and  honestly,  trusting  in  the  Lord,  for 
His  providence  is  around  us  ever.  May  the  Lord  preserve  and  keep  you  in 
this  hour  of  trouble,  is  mj'  earnest  prayer.  A  little  circle  of  four — one  sister 
and  three  brothers — which  has  existed  from  childhood  to  old  age  has  now 
been  broken  in  this  world,  to  be  re-united,  ere  many  years,  in  the  spiritual 
world,  for  we  are  all  advancing  step  by  step,  and  one  by  one  we  shall  lay 
aside  our  mantle  of  flesh  and  join  our  brother.  God  grant  that  we  who  remain 
may  strive  earnestly  to  be  as  well  prepared  to  depart  as  was  he  who  has  now 

gone  before  us. 

Affectionately  yoixrs. 
To  C.  D.  Ellis,  Belding,  Mich.  JOHN  ELLIS. 

Extracts  from  No.  20,  "Vol.  2,"  of  the  "Michigan  Sentinel,"  published 
by  Edward  D.  Ellis.     See  page  165. 

MICHIGAN  SENTINEL. 

Monroe,  Michigan  Territory,  Nov.  4,  1826. 

Monroe  on  the  River  Raisin.    Published  every  Saturday,  by  Edward  D,  Ellis. 

Terms,  $2.50  per  annum. 

Sample  articles — "A  proclamation  by  John  Quincy  Adams,  president  of 
the  United  States,  by  H.  Clay,  Secretary  of  State,  of  a  General  Convention 
of  Friendship,  Commerce  and  Navigation  between  the  United  States  of 
America  and  His  Majesty,  the  King  of  Denmark.  Done  at  Washington  Oct.  4, 
1826." 

Market  reports— Butter,  10  to  15  cents.  Wheat,  62  cents.  Oats,  25 
cents.  Flour,  $3.50  to  .i;400.  Pork.  12  to  14  cents.  Salt,  .$4.50  to  |4,75  per 
bbl.     Sugar,  10  to  12.     Whitkey,  37.     Apples,  38  to  50. 

Lewis  Cass  was  governor  of  the  territory.  The  territory  was  governed  by 
a  legislative  council  appointed  for  two  years.  Those  from  the  9th  of  March, 
1826,  were  Abraham  Edwards,  Harry  Connor,  Andrew  G.  Whitney  (deceased) 
and  Robert  Forsythe,  from  Wayne  and  Washtenaw;  Walcott  Lawrence, 
Hubert  Leacroix  and  Laurent  Durocher  from  Monroe  and  Lenawee;  Sidney 
Dole,  W"m.  F.  Mosely,  from  Oakland;  John  Stockton,  Wm.  A.  Burt,  Ma- 
comb; Zephaniah  W.  Bunce,  St.  Clair  Co. ;  Robert  Irwin,  jr.,  Mackinaw  and 
Crawford  counties.  June  9th,  1826,  Gen.  Cass  made  proclamation  calling 
together  the  council  for  Nov.  2,  1826. 


454 

"  Marriage  enlarf^es  the  scene  of  our  happiness  and  miseries.  A  marriage 
of  love  is  pleasant;  a  marriage  of  interest  easy,  and  a  marriage  where  both  meet 
happy.  A  happy  marriage  has  in  it  all  the  pleasures  of  friendship  and  all  the 
enjoyments  of  sense  and  reason,  and  indeed  all  the  comforts  and  sweets  of  this 
life.  Good  nature  and  evenness  of  temper  will  give  you  an  easy  companion  for 
life;  virtue  and  good  sense  an  agreeable  friend  ;  loa'e  and  constancy  a  good 
wife  or  husband. " 

"Printer's  Call,  June  9th,  1826.  The  undersigned  finding  it  hard  to  live 
entirely  upon  air,  earnestly  requests  that  those  indebted  on  account  of  Vol.  1, 
will  make  payments  on  or  before  Jan.  1st,  1827,  and  those  who  are  unable  to 
pay  are  requested  to  call  and  promise." 

Luther  Tucker  &  Co..  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  propose  to  publish  the  Tele- 
graph, a  daily  paper,  for  six  dollars  a  year. 

There  is  an  account  of  the  proposed  Welland  Canal  in  Canada,  and  the 
formation  of  a  company  with  a  capital  of  §1,000,000  to  construct  it. 

The  Sentinel  is  a  five  column  folio.     Over  one-half  is  devoted  to  publish 
ing  United  States  and  Territorial  laws. 

In  a  subsequent  number  of  the  Sentinel  is  the  following  :  "  We  should 
never  despair,  for  we  may  be  assured  that  there  is  a  Pilot  at  the  helm  of  all 
earthly  concerns  who  is  guiding  the  great  ship  of  human  affairs  in  the  best 
possible  way  to  a  haven  of  peace  and  prosperity. " 

THE  OI^D  DELMAR  CHURCH. 

The  following  extract  from  the  WeUf^oro  Agitator,  (Tioga Co.,  Penn.)  for 
March  21,  1876,  was  written  by  Elder  0.  N.  Worden,  of  New  Milford,  Penn. 
It  relates  mostly  to  Dea.  Eichard  Ellis  and  his  descendants,  who  were  among 
the  first  settlers  in  that  portion  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  early  part  of  the  pres- 
ent century.     See  pages  S3,  86. 

"  Perhaps  the  first  church  in  Delmar,  when  this  township  comprised  nearly 
one-fourth  of  the  west  part  of  the  county  of  Tioga,  was  on  Big  Pine  Creek,  west 
of  Wellsboro  and  the  Big  Marsh  or  Meadow.  The  meetings  were  principally 
at  the  first  school  house  and  at  the  house  of  the  Ellis  family.  There  had  been 
no  preaching  or  special  efforts  recently,  if  ever,  and  yet  a  work  of  grace  on  the 
hearts  of  the  people  was  evident. 

In  June,  1819,  Elder  Oviatt  preached  at  the  house  of  Richard  Ellis  to 
most  of  the  people  of  the  settlement. 

Eleven  were  baptised  on  the  27th  day  of  June,  1819.  They  were  Reuben 
Ellis,  Richard  Ellis,  sr.,  and  jr.,  Asaph,  John,  Consider,  Chloe, (Richard's  wife), 
Amanda  and  Lucretia  Ellis,  Martha  Herrington  and  Eunice  Bacon. 

June  29th,  Elder  S.  Bigelow,  from  New  York  State,  baptised  four — David 
Dimick,  Anna  Phoenix,  Eunice  Herrington  and  Patience  Ellis. 

In  September  of  the  same  year,  Elder  John  Stone  visited  the  settlement 
and  baptised  Polly  Ellis  and  Nancy  Bacon.  On  Dec.  22d,  1819,  the  above 
and  a  few  others  were  organized  into  a  regular  Baptist  church.  The  next 
day  David  Ellis  was  baptised. 

More  than  half  of  the  early  members  of  this  church  were  of  the  Ellis  name 
or  relations  of  the  family.     Reuben,  the  oldest,  was  a  deaf  mute,   who  had 


455 

long  waited  to  follow  Him  he  loved  in  His  holy  ordinance  of  baptism. 
"Asaph  Run  "is  named  after  Dea.  Asaph  Ellis.  EUisburg,  Potter  County, 
is  named  after  this  family  there  located.  One  Ellis  was  a  deacon  in  Tioga 
Church.  John,  Richard  and  Consider  were  licensed  preachers  or  exhorters, 
and  the  last  named  was  ordained  in  Potter  County,  March  19th,  1835.  In 
182 — [the  exact  year  is  not  given]  there  was  what  was  known  as  the  "great 
sickness,"  in  which  there  was  great  mortality  among  these  people." 

Localitiea  where  numbers  of  the  Ellises  have  located,  or  where  they  now 
reside. 

OTISCO  AND  BELDENG,  MICH. 

The  township  of  Otisco  is  the  northwest  corner  town  of  Ionia  County, 
Mich.  It  began  to  be  settled  about  1836  and  1837,  principally  by  emigrants 
from  Central  New  York  and  Ashfield,  Mass.  The  first  township  election  was 
held  April  2d,  1838,  at  the  shanty  of  Mr.  Robert  W.  Davis,  who,  with  several 
others  from  Oakland  County,  Mich.,  had  settled  there.  Mr.  Davis'  home  was 
a  little  northwest  of  the  house  and  farm  of  Mr.  Volney  Belding,  whose  place 
was  one  mile  north  of  the  town  center  and  was  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
cross  roads  at  that  point. 

The  officers  dected  were  as  follows:  Supervisor,  John  L.  Morse;  Clerk, 
R.  W.  Davis;  Assessors,  Amos  H.  Russell,  George  W.  Dickerson  and  Ambrose 
Spencer;  Highway  Commissioners,  Geo.  W.  Dickerson,  Ambrose  Spencer  and 
Rufus  R.  Cook;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  William  M.  Springer  and  Volney  Beld- 
ing; Justices  of  the  Peace,  R.  W.  Davis,  G.  W.  Dickerson,  Rufus  R.  Cook  and 
Nathaniel  E.  Horton;  School  Inspectors,  Robert  W.  Davis,.  Geo.  W.  Dicker- 
son  and  N.  E.  Horton;  Constable  and  Collector,  Ambrose  Spencer. 

There  are  but  three  men  now  living  (1888)  who  cast  their  votes  at  that 
time:  John  L.  Morse,  C.  S.  D.  Harroun  and  Volney  Belding;  the  others  have 
been  rowed  across  the  river  by  the  silent  boatman.  Fourteen  votes  were  cast. 
Those  who  did  not  aspire  for  oflSce  were  Wm.  Russel,  C.  S.  D.  Harroun,  Dan- 
iel Horton,  Munson  Seeley,  Asa  Palmer  and  Patrick  Kelly. 

There  are  but  two  persons  now  residing  in  the  town  who  were  there  then, 
Mrs.  James  Moon  and  Gilbert  Russell.  This  year  (1838)  was  born  the  first  white 
child  in  the  town,  Eliza  Russell,  daughter  of  Amos  Russell,  now  the  wife  of 
L.  C.  Fales,  of  Orleans.  The  first  white  boy  born  in  the  town  the  following 
February,  was  A.  B.  Morse,  son  of  John  L.  Morse,  now  Supreme  Judge  of 
Michigan.  (See  page  171.)  In  fifty  years  the  town  has  grown,  by  birth  and 
immigration,  from  fourteen  votes  to  about  six  hundred. 

Otisco  was  a  town  of  remarkable  fertility,  and  settled  almost  exclusively 
by  men  and  women  of  uncommon  intelligence  and  worth.  Among  the  agri- 
cultural towns  of  Michigan  it  has  for  many  years  stood  next  to  one  the  highest 
in  the  state  for  wealth,  enterprise  and  moral  and  intellectual  advancement. 
Among  the  early  settlers  were  the  following  from  Ashfield,  Mass. :  Volney 
and  Thomas  Belding  and  their  sister,  Mrs.  Jane  Shaw.  (See  page  186),  Joseph 
and  Nathaniel  Fisk, (the  latter  has  just  died,  March,  1888),  Frederick  and  Silas 
Kimberley,  with  several  sisters  and  their  father.  Sterns  Kimberly,  Geo.  Coo- 
ley,  Dexter  Cutler,  Mr.  Coombs.  Most  of  the  above  had  families  and  located 
there  previous  to  1840.  In  the  forties  there  arrived  Mr.  Tiberius  Belding, 
Lewis  Ellis,  Dea.  Dimick  Ellis,  Horace  Liscomb,   Orpheus  Nelson,   Chandler 


456 

Belding,  Charles  and  Norman  Putney,  all  of  whom,  except  Mr.  Nelaon,  had 
families.  Nearly  all  of  these  Ashfield  people  located  on  farms  in  the  north 
part  of  the  town  and  were  neighbors  and  steadfast  friends  during  all  their 
lives.  But  few  of  these  people  are  now  living,  but  they  have  all  left  names 
worthy  of  lasting  remembrance. 

In  the  township  of  Otisco  are  several  villages — Smyrna,  in  the  south  part 
of  the  town;  "the  corners"  or  Otiaco  Center;  Kiddville,  in  the  extreme  north- 
east, and  Belding  about  one  mile  and  a  half  southwesterly  from  Kiddville. 
The  latter  place  is  a  station  on  the  Detroit,  Lansing  &  Northern  railroatl,  from 
which  point  a  branch  road  runs  over  to  Belding.  Freight  trains  go  out  and  in 
from  Belding  every  day,  but  passengers  are  conveyed  by  a  horse  car  which 
connects  with  all  trains.  Belding  is  a  flourishing  village  of  about  1,000  popu- 
lation and  rapidly  growing. 

At  this  locality  is  what  was  known  in  early  times  as  Broas'  Rapids,  so- 
called  from  Mr.  Charles  Broas,  one  of  the  early  settlers,  whose  house  was  one- 
half  mile  south,  and  whose  farm  included  the  lands  where  Belding  now  stands. 
In  1855  Mr.  Hiram  Belding,  from  Ashfield,  purchased  this  site,  and  a  few  , 
years  after  improvements  of  the  water-power  and  the  erection  of  a  large  saw 
mill  by  the  Wilsons,  Luther  and  Belding  Bros.,  and  a  first-class  flouring  mill 
by  Knott  &  Co.,  led  to  the  quite  rapid  growth  of  the  village.  In  1886,  the 
Belding  Bros,  erected  a  large  mill  there  for  the  manufacture  of  sewing  silks, 
and  at  the  presest  time  have  nearly  completed  one  of  the  largest  and  finest 
brick  and  stone  hotel  and  opera  house  buildings  in  that  part  of  the  State. 
The  same  parties  also  have  a  factory  employing  100  workmen  engaged  in 
making  refrigerators,  and  are  about  to  enlarge  the  same  works  four  fold. 

The  churches  of  Belding  are  the  Christian,  built  about  1875,  and  the  Method- 
ist, erected  in  1887.  Belding  also  has  a  flourishing  union  school  with  a  large 
and  costly  brick  building.  At  Otisco  Center  there  is  a  Baptist  church,  erected 
about  1855.  Belding  is  one  of  the  largest  shipping  stations  on  the  D.,  L.  &  N. 
railroad.  The  Belding  Bros,  have  here  nearly  1000  acres  of  land,  mostly  under 
cultivation  and  well  stocked  with  superior  cattle  and  sheep. 

On  the  north  bank  of  the  Flat  river,  opposite  the  main  part  of  the  village, 
are  the  farms  of  Messrs.  Lewis  and  Richard  Ellis,  who  located  there  in  1842 
and  1844,  and  where  they  and  some  of  their  descendants  now  reside — except 
Dea.  Richard  Ellis,  (239)  who  died  in  1878. 

/- 

PITTSTOWN,  N.  Y. 

Pittstown,  Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y.,  is  an  agricultural  town  situated  on 
the  Macadam  or  stone  road  half  way  between  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  Bennington, 
Vt.  It  is  a  large  township  and  near  the  southeast  corner  is  the  hamlet  of 
Boyntonville,  named  for  Mr.  Wm.  Boynton,  who  was  born  there  about  1830, 
and  still  lives  there.  At  this  place,  Dea.  Richard  Ellis,  (  239  )  eldest  son  of 
Dimick  of  Ashfield,  settled  when  a  young  man.  When  he  was  about  21 
years  of  age,  he  started  out,  as  did  most  of  Ashfield  young  men,  (see  page 
118),  on  a  prospecting  tour  through  Vermont  and  New  York.  In  a  year  or  so 
he  located  at  Pittstown  and  began  the  coopering  business — manufacturing 
barrels  for  the  market  at  Troy,  15  miles  distant.  This  was  about  1826  or  1827, 
Here  he  remained  until  the  spriua;  of  1844,  when  he  removed  to  Otisco,  Mich. 


457 

In  1842,  his  brother  Lewis  and  brother-in-law  Tiberius  Belding  having  settled 
in  Otisco,  he  made  a  trip  out  there  and  bought'  200  acres  of  land.  At  this 
time  the  emigration  to  the  west  was  beginning  to  set  in  quite  strong,  and 
within  a  few  years  several  families  and  many  young  men  left  Pittstown  for 
Otisco.  In  1843,  Messrs.  Hiram  Green,  John  Penny,  Abner  Wright  and 
James  Tallman  were  among  these.  In  1844,  were  Dea.  Eichard  Ellis,  Job 
Gibbs,  Wm .  Stokes,  Aaron  Weaver  and  Erastus  Jencks.  Within  the  next 
year  or  two,  these  were  followed  by  Elder  Wilson  Mosher,  Charles  Spicer, 
John  Gibbs,  Michael  Weter,  Allen  Thompson,  Edwin  Ranney,  Alex.  Tallman, 
Daniel  Green  and  his  father  and  mother,  James,  Norman  and  Charles  Wright, 
{brothers  of  Abner  above)  Joseph  Boynton,  Joseph  Felshaw,  John  and  his  son, 
Matthew  Hydorn,  Nicholas  Demory  and  Andrus  Phillips.  The  last  four  were 
from  Grafton,  about  one  mile  south  of  Boyntonville.  Several  more  of  Pitts- 
town  people  settled  in  other  parts  of  Michigan  in  the  forties,  and  soon  after 
Loudon,  Darius  and  Deinetrius  Button,  with  their  mother  and  the  latter's 
brother,  Allen  Thurber,  in  Grand  Kapids,  Mich.,  and  Mary  Wadsworth,  who 
married  a  Lawrence  who  owned  and  kept  the  Lawrence  hotel,  in  Adrian,  Mich., 
for  many  years  up  to  the  spring  of  1888.  The  writer  left  Boyntonville,  his 
native  place,  when  but  a  lad.  Forty-three  years  later,  (in  1887),  he  made  a 
short  visit  there.  It  is  a  bright  spot  with  many  cheerful  happy  faces  to  be  seen, 
but  few  who  were  known  to  him.  The  Gibbs,  Warren,  Haskins  and  Wads- 
worth  families,  once  numerous  and  influential,  have  mostly  "gone  west"  or 
that  other  "way  of  all  the  world."  Some  of  the  Campbells  and  Richmonds, 
elegant  people,  hold  to  the  old  homesteads  yet,  each  of  which  have  strong 
attachments — near  relatives — in  Otisco  now. 

SPRINGFIELD,  PENN. 

Springfield,  the  northwestern  township  of  Erie  County,  Pa.,  lies  on  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  and  is  where  Dea.  David  Ellis,  with  his  sons 
William  and  David,  jr.,  with  their  families  from  Ashfleld,  settled  in  1818. 
See  pages  86  to  88. 

The  lake  shore  plain  is  about  three  miles  wide.  In  the  eastern  part  of  the 
plain  and  along  the  ridge  road  are  excellent  farms.  When  the  first  settler,  Capt. 
Samuel  Holliday*  came  here  to  locate  in  1796,  he  found  an  unbroken  forest. 
Other  settlers  soon  followed,  and  when  in  1818  the  Ellis  families  came,  Spring- 
field contained  about  700  inhabitants.  East  Springlield,  situated  on  the  Ridge 
Road,  three  miles  from  the  lake,  was  then  Springfield  Four  Corners,  and  con- 
tained two  hotels,  a  store,  a  school-house  and  a  few  houses,  mostly  built  of 
logs.  On  the  beach  of  the  lake  was  a  road  which  extended  west  as  far  as 
Oonneaut,  Ohio,  along  which  many  of  the  new  comers  settled.  All  trace  of 
the  road  has  now  disappeared,  the  water  having  washed  away  the  bank,  in 
some  places,  over  100  feet  since  then.  Some  buildings  have  been  moved  over 
one-half  a  mile  for  safety  from  the  waves.  The  first  Methodist-Episcopal 
church  was  erected  a  mile  south  of  West  Springfield  in  1804.  There  are  now 
two  M.  E.  churches,  one  at  East  and  one  at  West  Springfield.  The  first 
Presbyterian  church  building  was  a  small  log  structure  standing  on  the  older 

*Mrs.  Richardson,  wife  of  Hon.  D.  M.  Richardson,  of  Detroit,  Mich,  was  a  Holliday, 
born  and  reared  in  .Siiringfield, 


458 

portion  of  the  cemetery  grounds.  It  was  built  in  1804.  The  Christian  church 
at  East  Spring6eld  was  organized  in  1826,  with  twelve  members,  one  of  whom 
was  Mrs.  Rumina  Ellis,  (181.)  A  church  was  built  in  1839,  and  the  present 
building  was  erected  on  the  same  site  in  1885.  The  Baptist  congregation  was 
organized  in  1826,  at  West  Springfield,  a  village  on  the  Ridge  Road  four  miles 
from  East  Springfield.  David  Ellis,  sr.,  (32)  was  a  charter  member  and  deacon 
in  the  Church.     At  West  Springfield  a  Universalist  church  was  built  in  1850. 

Of  the  three  villages.  East,  West  and  North  Springfield,  the  East  village 
is  the  largest.  There  are  several  handsome  residences  with  beautiful  lawns 
and  gardens,  several  places  of  business,  an  academy  used  as  high  and  public 
school.  A  large,  well  kept  cemetery  in  which  are  many  beautiful  and  costly 
monuments,  is  situated  one  half  mile  north  of  East  Springfield.  There  are  two 
lines  of  railroads.  Lake  Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  and  New  York  Central 
&  St.  Louis.  (The  latter  road  is  popularly  called  the  nickle  plate  from  the  fact 
or  impression  that  its  builders  spared  no  expense  of  money  in  its  construction.  )• 
This  road  has  a  depot  at  East  and  West  Springfield,  the  former  a  depot  at 
North  Springfield.  A  short  distance  east  of  the  depot  at  North  Springfield,  is 
the  most  solid  and  costly  piece  of  work  in  the  township,  the  L.  S  &  M.  S. 
culvert  and  embankment  over  Crooked  Creek.  The  embankment  is  90  feet 
above  the  water  and  between  700  and  800  feet  in  length.  About  200  men 
were  empl(»yed  in  its  construction,  and  it  required  two  years  to  complete  it. 
About  one  mile  south  of  this  structure,  where  the  "nickle  plate"  road 
crosses  the  same  stream  and  gulch,  there  is  a  long  and  high  tressle-work  of 
iron  and  steel  for  the  roadway — an  elegant  aud  costly  striicture.  The  depot 
of  this  latter  road  is  only  about  twenty  rods  from  Dr.  George  Ellis'  residence^ 
and  is  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  where  the  EUises  settled  in  1818. 

The  following  will  illustrate  the  courage,  resolution  and  sound  principles 
of  some  of  the  early  settlers  in  that  new  country : 

"Many  stories  are  told  of  the  courage  of  the  women  of  that  early  generation 
which  first  broke  the  ground  in  the  forests  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  in 
constant  peril  from  wild  beasts  and  hostile  Indians,  but  with  heroic  patience 
endured  hardships,  labor  and  disease.  An  example  of  another  kind  of  cour- 
age is  preserved  of  Christina  Dickson,  the  wife  of  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Erie  County,  Pennsylvania, 

She  was  a  small,  low  voiced  woman,  extremely  timid  by  nature;  but  upon 
one  subject  she  was  resolute;  she  had  a  horror  of  drunkenness.  She  lived  in 
the  days  when  the  use  of  liquor  was  universal.  Whisk}'  was  as  common  as  a 
drink  of  water  among  these  hardy,  hardworking  pioneers.  A  temperance  or 
abstinence  society  was  unheard  of.  But  when  her  sons  were  born,  she  re- 
solved, as  far  as  she  could,  to  put  a  stop  to  whisky  drinking  in  her  home. 

Her  husband  being  absent,  her  brothers  called  for  the  help  of  the  neigh- 
bors, according  to  the  custom  of  the  time,  to  put  up  a  barn  needed  on  her 
farm.  They  all  assembled  and  went  to  work,  while  she  prepared  a  great  din- 
ner. After  an  hour  or  two  whisky  was  asked  for.  One  of  the  brothers  came 
to  the  house  for  it;  she  refused  to  provide  it  to  make  her  friends  drunk.  Her 
other  brothers,  and  at  last  an  elder  in  the  church,  came  to  reason  with  her,  to 
tellher  she  would  be  accused  of  meanness.  Without  a  word  the  little  woman 
went  out  to  the  bam,  and  baring  her  head  stepped  upon  a  log  and  spoke  to 
them  in  a  faltering  voice.     "My  neighbors,"  said  she,    "this  is  a  strange 


459 

thing.  Three  of  you  are  my  brothers,  three  of  you  are  elders  in  the  church;, 
all  of  you  are  my  friends.  I  have  prepared  for  you  the  best  dinner  in  my 
power.  If  you  refuse  to  raise  the  barn  without  liquor  so  be  it.  But  before  I 
will  provide  whisky  to  give  you,  these  timbers  shall  rot  where  they  lie." 
The  men  angrily  left  the  work  and  went  home;  the  little  woman  returned 
to  the  house,  and  for  hours  cried  as  though  her  heart  would  break.  But  the. 
next  day  every  man  came  back,  went  heartily  to  work,  enjoyed  her  good  din- 
ner, and  said  not  a  word  about  whisky. 

Afterwards,  whisky  at  barn  raisings  was  discontinued  in  the  county. 
Her  sons  grew  up  strong,  vigorous  men,  who  did  good  work  in  helping  to 
civilize  and  Christianize  the  world;  and  their  descendants  are  all  of  high-stand- 
ing, intellectual,  moral  men  and  women.  If  she  had  yielded  this  little  point, 
they  might  have  degenerated,  like  many  of  their  neighbors,  into  drunkards 
and  spendthrifts. 

There  are  still  vices  and  maligant  customs  to  be  conquered,  and  for  the 
work  we  need  women  of  high  souls  and  gentle  spirit  like  Christina  Dickson." 

EASTON.  MASS. 

Easton,  Mass. ,  is  in  the  northeast  corner  'of  Bristol  county.  About 
1690  to  1700  many  settlements  were  made  here  from  families  near  Boston  and 
Cape  Cod.  Probably  the  most  numerous  familly  was  the  Phillipses — Capt^ 
John  Phillips  and  his  brothers  and  their  descendants.  The  first  two  families 
who  settled  in  Ashfield,  Richard  Ellis  and  his  wife's  brother,  Thomas 
Phillips,  and  their  families  were  from  Easton.  It  is  now  a  flourishing  manu- 
facturing town  and  has  long  been  noted  for  the  immense  Ames  Shovel  Factor- 
ies. Oakes  and  OJiver  Ames,  men  of  great  industry  and  enterprise,  began  this 
business  here  nearly  sixty  years  ago.  One  of  their  descendants,  Hon.  Oliver 
Ames,  a  native  of  Easton,  is  now  governor  of  Massachusetts.  In  1886  Rev.^ 
William  L.  Chaffin,  pastor  of  the  Unitarian  church  of  Easton,  wrote  and 
printed  a  large  volume  of  over  800  pages  of  the  history  of  Easton.  It  is  a 
work  of  great  merit  and  a  credit  to  the  town. 

CONNERSVIIitE,  IND. 

Connersville,  Ind.,  on  Whitewater  river,  is  the  county  seat  of  Fayette 
county,  Indiana.  The  town  was  organized  in  1819.  The  first  settlements 
were  made  about  1804  to  1808.  John  Conner  and  his  family  lived  here 
among  the  Indians  in  those  days.  About  1825  Stephen  and  Moses  Ellis 
(see  pages  130  to  132)  settled  near  here,  whore  several  of  their  descendants- 
now  live.     It  is  a  thriving  city  of  about  4000  population. 

CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  ELLISES. 

In  concluding  his  work,  the  writer  would  be  glad  to  give  somewhat  of  the 
personal  traits,  or  characteristics,  of  his  branch  of  EUises,  but  inasmuch 
as  they  probably  difi"er  but  little,  if  any,  from  most  of  those  of  their  times  and 
localities,  and  as  his  acquaintance  with  them  is  somewhat  limited,  whatever 
is  said  in  this  respect  need  not  be  greatly  extended. 

It  can,  he  believes,  be  said  in  truth  of  a  great  majority^  if  not  all  of  these 
people,  that  they  have,  in  a  commendable  degree,  a  strong  desire  to  be  and 


460 

become  moral,  intelligent  and  respected  citizens  of  the  localities  wherever  they 
may  chance  to  live.  Industry  and  persistence  in  whatever  they  undertake  are 
also  traits  worthy  ot  mention.  In  these  respects  failure  to  obtain  great  results 
suddenly,  gives  no  disappointment  and  leads  to  no  relaxation  of  steady,  consist- 
ent effort  and  patient  toil.  With  them,  more  than  with  many  others,  if  the 
expectations  of  youth  and  mature  years  are  not  fully  realized,  no  discourage- 
ment follows,  nor  is  old  age  soured  thereby  and  rendered  complaining;  and 
with  some,  their  most  successful  efforts  and  best  work  comes  late  in  life. 

Firmness  is  also  a  leading  trait  of  the  Ellises.  With  all  there  is  a  becom- 
ing desire  to  be  right,  to  be  grounded  in  correct  principles  and  in  truth,  and  in 
this  will  they  maintain  their  position  with  an  unalterable  determination  and 
firmness  even  to  obstinacy. 

They  are,  too,  a  religious  people.  With  the  earlier  generations  the  relig- 
ious sentiment  predominated.  One  hundred  years  ago  books  and  newspapers 
were  not  common,  and  the  literary  propensities  of  the  average  New  Englander 
bad  a  limited  range.  The  bible  was  the  great  book  and  often  the  only  one  in  the 
family.  With  this  all  the  members  became,  in  time,  familiar,  and  many  were 
devoted  students  of  the  sacred  volume.  The  head  of  the  family  often  became 
a  decided  theologian  and  was  not  loth  to  meet  in  bible  argument  any  adversary. 
He  had  very  positive  and  fixed  opinions  regarding  salvation,  damnation, 
infant  "sprinkling,"  immersion,  predestination,  foreordination,  the  trinity, 
or  unity,  of  the  Godhead,  the  co-equality  of  "God  the  Son  with  God  the 
Father,"  etc.,  etc.  No  day  was  too  long,  or  fair,  or  business  too  urgent  to 
interfere  with  the  periodical  discussion  of  these  questions.  The  casual  visit  of 
a,  stranger  was  soon  followed  by  the  usual  salutation,  or  inquiry,  "What  are 
your  views  ?  "  meaning  his  opinions  on  all  the  various  theological  tenets — and 
often  he  found  one  as  fully  informed  and  determined  as  himself,  with  whom  he 
quickly  "locked  horns"  for,  perhaps,  a  day's  discussion,  the  result  of  which 
was  only  to  end  where  it  began,  if,  indeed,  each  was  not  the  more  fully  con- 
firmed in  the  truth  and  importance  of  his  own  opinions.  They  were  withal  a 
practical  people,  free  from  the  follies  and  dissipations  which  impairs,  if  not 
destroys  the  usefulness  of  so  many  in  these  later  times. 

In  political  sentiments  all  with  whom  the  writer  is  acquainted,  or  of 
whom  he  has  heard,  are  Republicans,  and  during  the  late  great  rebellion  not 
one  was  disloyal  to  the  Union. 

While  the  present  generation  of  Ellises  is  noted  for  sobriety,  it  is 
■doubted  by  some  if  they,  as  a  whole,  maintain  the  standard  of  piety,  devotion, 
perseverance  and  all  the  general  excellencies  of  their  New  England  ancestors. 
Without  examples  of  vaulting  ambition  or  astonishing  brilliancy,  they  seem 
content  generally  to  follow  the  even  tenor  of  a  life  of  virtue  and  usefulness, 
and  evidently  in  the  great  economy  of  God  and  nature  they  fill  well  their 
sphere.     Of  such  it  is  a  credit  to  be  one. 


INDEX. 


Ellis. 
Aaron,  420. 

Abel  West,  20,  28,  137. 
Abilam,  270. 

Abigail  (Wightman),  25,  44,  204. 
Abilena,  34. 
Adelbert  C,  272. 
Adaline  G.,  263. 
Adelbert,  41,  198. 
Adaline,  46. 
Adelaid  R.,  48,  211. 
Ada  L.,  66,  252. 
Albert  T.,  40,  196. 
Rev.  Albert  A.,  23,  39,  190. 
Adolphus  C,  31,  56,  229. 
Alexander,  42,  199. 
Algia  Frank,  50. 
Alfred,  38,  259. 
Alfred  O.,  27,  50,  213. 
Albert,  270. 
Alonzo,  239. 
Alvah, 44. 
Amarilla,  28,  214. 
Amanda  M.  (Robinson),  26,  47, 210 
Amos,  419. 
Amasa,  30,  53,  223. 
Amasa,  31,  56,  230. 
Amanda,  272. 
Amelia,  37,  252. 
Amelia,  262. 
Amelia  G.,  267. 
Amy  R,  51,  215. 
Anthony  W.,  22.  36,  160. 
Andrew,  272. 
Angeline,  46. 
Ann  (AUyn),  34,  61,  243. 


Ellis. 
Annie  S.  (Ward),  26,  46,  208. 
Anna  S.  (Barling),  34,  246. 
Annie  B.,  54,  228. 
Anna  Belle,  67,  257. 
Ann,  269. 
Arlington  C ,  263. 
Arnita,  42,  200. 
Arnold,  420. 
Arthur,  209. 
Arthur  C.  66,  251. 
Arthur  Day,  36. 
Asa,  417. 

Asaph,  20,  29,  145. 
Asaph  C,  220. 
Asaph  A.,  217. 
Augustus  C.  v.,  418. 
Augustus,  47,  209. 
Azel,  22,  33,  155. 
Baker  D.,  31,  229. 
Barzillai,  sr.  416. 
Barzillai,  jr.  417. 
Benjamin,  18,  20,  80. 
Benjamin,  jr.  20,  26,  133. 
Benjamin,  22,  35,  159. 
Benjamin,  42,  199. 
Benjamin  Eber,  47,  209. 
Benjamin  F.,  37,  253. 
Benson,  421. 
Beulah,  189. 
Bertha,  51,  216. 
Bertha,  189. 
Bernard,  414. 
Billings,  420. 
Birch,  36,  65,  250. 
Birchard,  62,  243. 


463 


INDEX. 


Boadisea  (King),  20,  28,  141. 

Bolivar,  420. 

Bruce  L.,  51. 

Burwell  P.,  421. 

Byron,  42,  200. 

Caleb,  17,  19,  79. 

Caleb,  24,  192. 

Caleb,  24,  40,  196. 

Camp,  65,  249. 

Carl,  58. 

Carrie  C,  52,  222. 

Carrie  Dell,  50. 

Carrie  M.,  38,  188. 

Carrol,  266. 

Caroline,  45,  207. 

Carrie  C,  222. 

Capt.  Cassius  M.,  47,  210. 

Catharine,  25,  201. 

Catharine  (Willard),  34,  62,  244. 

C.  Dimick,  37,  67,  254. 

Charles  J.,  419. 

Charles,  42,  200. 

Charles  S.,  39,  190. 

Chauncey  A.,  29,  217. 

Charles,  29,  216. 

Chelometh  (Avery),  20,  27,  135. 

Charles  P.,  32,  57,  232. 

Chester,  30,  54,  227. 

Chester  Coburn,  44,  205. 

Charles  E.,  48,  212. 

Christina  E.,  38,  188,  196. 

Charles,  53,  224. 

Charles  E.,  57,  235. 

Chace,  263. 

Chloe  (Rexford),  30,  54,  226, 

Charles,  58. 

Charles  M.,  60,  241. 

Charles  H.,  268. 

Rev.  Charles  D,,  420. 

Christa,  420. 

Christopher,  418. 

Chester,  417. 

•Clara  A.,  49. 

Clarissa  (Selover),  36,  250. 

Clara  Inez,  235. 

Clarence  L.,  35,  247. 

•aark,  60. 


Ellis. 

Rev.  Consider,  20,  29,  145,  455. 

Consider,  30,  53,  224. 

Cora  L.,  58,  236. 

Cretia  Ann  (Anesley),  31,  55,  228. 

Cyrus,  22,  36,  160,  432,  444. 

Cyrus,  28,  50,  214. 

Cyrus,  jr.,  36,250. 

CyrHs  H.,  66,  261. 

Dr.  C.  v.,  421. 

Darwin,  272. 

Daniel,  19,  23,  126. 

Daniel,  20,  132. 

Daniel,  24,  192. 

Daniel,  26,  48,  212. 

Datus,  417. 

David,  21,  30,  147. 

David,  jr.  21,33,  153. 

David,  24,  40,  195. 

David,  57,  231. 

David,  271. 

David,  270. 

Dr.  David  E.,  416. 

David  F.,  421. 

Dea.  David,  18,  21,  86. 

Delos,  53,  224. 

Deborah,  418. 

Desiah  (Belding),  23,  37,  168. 

Dette  L.,  42,  200. 

Dea.  Dimick,  13,  19,  113,  424,  450. 

Delia  Jane  (Brinkerhoff),  36,  249. 

Delphine,  53. 

Diantha  J.,  44,  205. 

Donaldson,  56,  230. 

Dora  S.,  59,  240. 

Dwight  W.,  267. 

Dyer,  263. 

Ebenezer,  22,  36, 159. 

Edith,  51,  216. 

Edith  A.,  49. 

Edmund,  27,  48,  212. 

Edmond,  49. 

Dr.  Edward,  420. 

Edna,  47,  211. 

Edward,  19,  22,  111,  424. 

Hon.  Edward  D.,  22,  37,  165,  427. 

Capt.  Edward  N.,  24,  193. 

Edward,  33,  241. 


INDEX. 


463 


Ellis. 

Edward  E.,  35. 

Edward  D.,  36,  65,  249. 

Edward  Charles,  37,  252. 

Edward  Dell,  38,  185. 

Dr.  Edwin,  421. 

Edwin  M.,  27,  49,  213. 

Edwin,  36,  64,  248. 

Edward  D.,  39,  189. 

Edward  D.,  67,  256. 

Edward  L.,  268. 

Edward  S.,  39,  190. 

Dr.  Edwin  W.,  46,  207. 

Edwin,  60. 

Egbert,  60. 

Electa,  269. 

Elmina,  264. 

Elmer  Eugene,  421. 

Ellenor  V.,  267. 

Elsie,  267. 

Elijah. 

Elvira  Ruth,  420. 

Ella,  56,  229. 

Ella,  55,  228. 

Ella  (Simons),  31,  56,  230. 

Eliza  Ann  (Cole),  26,  46,  208. 

Eliza,  46,  207. 

Eliza  Jane,  53. 

Eliza,  269. 

Elizabeth,  52,  224. 

Elizabeth  T.,  37,  253. 

Elizabeth  (Chaffee),  21. 

Elizabeth  (Paddock),  23,  32,  188. 

Elizabeth  (Fullar),  27,  213. 

Elizabeth  (Duckworth),  34,  243. 

Elizabeth,  56,  230. 

Elizabeth  B.  (Gunn),  67,  255. 

Ellen,  46. 

Ellen,  42,  199. 

EliaB,  36,  249. 

Capt.  Elisha,  22,  34,  156. 

Rev.  Elisha,  34,  60,  242. 

Elisha,  61,  243. 

Eliphalet,  269. 

Elnora,  63,  246. 

Eli,  52. 

Elvira  (Coats),  57,  230. 

Elva  C,  59,  240. 


Ellis. 

Emma  Maude,  .50,  214. 

Emma,  55,  228. 

Enos,  269. 

Ensign,  417. 

Enoch,  420. 

Ephraim  C,  268. 

Dr.  Erastus  R.,  37,  67,  254. 

Erastus  W.  H.,  422. 

Erodis,  270. 

Ernest  Spencer,  421. 

Essie  Amand,  62. 

Eunice  (Herrington),  21,  30,  146. 

Eunice,  26. 

Eunice,  122. 

Eugene  F.  M.,  62. 

Eva  Minnie  M.,  62. 

Eveline  C,  48,  211. 

Fannie,  26. 

Fannie,  42,  200. 

Fannie,  52. 

Fannie  F.,  51,  215. 

Florence  E-,  40,  196. 

Frances  A.,  272. 

Frances,  53. 

Francis  A.,  48,  212. 

Frances  E.,  49. 

Frank,  42,  199. 

Frank  E.,  52,  222. 

Frank,  53,  224. 

Franklin,  25,  201. 

Frank  E.,  58,  236. 

Frank  H.,  60,  241. 

Freeman,  417. 

Fred.,  42,  199. 

Fred.,  52,  222. 

Frederick,  211. 

Fred.  A.,  50. 

Fred.  A.,  66,  251. 

Fred.  D.,  55,  228. 

Fred.  E.,  268. 

Fred.  Hayes,  50,  214. 

Fred.  S.,  421. 

Fred.  T.,  59,  240. 

Gad,  25,  200. 

Gad,  42,  200. 

Genett,  56,  229. 

Genett,  31,  230. 


464 


INDEX. 


Ellis. 
George,  29,  52,  221. 
George  Roger,  24,  193. 
Dr.  George,  33,  59,  23S. 
George  B.,  37,  257. 
George  W.,  7,  37,  257,  359. 
George  W.,  39,  189. 
Geo.  Edwin,  40,  196. 
Geo.  Elmer,  49,  213. 
George  W.,  58,  236. 
Geo.  Wilbur,  59,  240. 
George  C,  265. 
George  W.,  269. 
George,  269. 
Rev.  George  E.,  417. 
George  A.,  422. 
George  K.,  422. 
Gertie  S.,  66,  250. 
George  F.,  227. 
Gideon,  419. 
Groat  N.,  23,  39,  189. 
Grateful  (Trask),  25,  43,  203. 
Grade  M.,  421. 
Grant,  61,  243. 

Guerdon,  421. 

Hanford,  20. 

Harry,  21,31,  150. 

Harry,  31,  55,  228. 

Harry,  56,  229. 

Harry  W.,  59,  240. 

Harry  M.,  219. 

Hazen  W.,  59,  240. 

Hannah  (Fulton),  17,  19,  78. 

Hannah  (Williams),  19,  21,  101. 

Hannah  (Chapman),  19. 

Hannah  (Fuller),  24,  193. 

Hannah  (Rounds),  24,  198. 

Hannah  J.  (Barker),  29,  220. 

Hannah  (Cole),  34, 61,  242. 

Hannah,  40,  195. 

Hannah,  264. 

Harriet,  263. 

Harriet  A.  (Riley),  66,  252. 

Hattie  Manella,  51,  215. 

Harriet  (Smith),  32,  57,  235. 

Harriet  A.,  218. 

Harmon,  25,  200. 

Hester  Ann  (Thomas),  26,  46,  208. 


Ellis. 
Henry,  66,  260. 
Henry  H.,  49. 
Henry  K.,  26,  48,  212. 
Henry  F.,  SS,  251. 
Henry  G.,  39,  189. 
Henry  D.,  40,  190. 
Henry  R.,  48,  212. 
Dr.  Henry  Reuben,  48,  212. 
Henry  F.,  52,  222. 
Henry  8.,  267. 
Henry  D.,  418. 
Herbert  L.,  66,  251. 
Hezekiah,  269. 
Helen  M.  (Shultis),  35,  245. 
Helen,  42,  199. 
Helen,  47,  210. 
Helen  M.  (Andrews),  67,  256. 
Helen  M.,  268. 
Hewitt  T.,  46,  208. 
Hiram,  22,  34,  156. 
Hiram,  36,  66,  250. 
Hiram  R.,  39,  194. 
Hollis  Fay,  48,  212. 
Horace,  29,  216. 
Hugh  M.,  421. 
Hylas,  420. 
H.  Z.,  421. 
Ida  E.,  49,  213. 
Ida  v.,  272. 
Inez  A.,  266. 
Ira,  219. 
Ira,  422. 

Isaac,  25,  42,  199. 
Isaac  N.,  34,  243. 
Isaac  Newton,  36,  249. 
Ivy,  208. 

James,  19,  25,  129. 
James,  25,  200. 
James  F.,  32,  236. 
James,  41,  198. 
James  E.,  50. 
James  D.,  53,  224. 
James  Alfred,  57,  234. 
James,  262. 
James  Fulton,  419. 
James  M.,  421. 
James,  269. 


INEEX. 


465 


Ellis. 

Jane  (Phillips),  17,  18,  74. 

Jane  (Lincoln),  19. 

Jane  (Sheldon),  19. 

Jane  (Waterson),  24,  198. 

Jane,  52. 

Jane,  261. 

Jay,  61,  243. 

Jefferson,  31,  55,  228. 

Jehu  Green,  421. 

Jennie,  51,  215. 

Jesse,  57,  231. 

Jessie  R.,  67,  256. 

Jessie,  272. 

John,  267. 

John,  266. 

John,  63,  246. 

John,  61,  243. 

John,  55,  228. 

John,  52. 

Lieut.  John,  17,  19,  76,  331,  313. 

John,  jr.  19,  22,  110. 

John, 19. 

John  A  His,  20,  28,  138. 

Rev.  John,  21. 

John  J.,  22,  35,  158. 

Dr.  John,  23,  38,  177,  359,  453. 

Jolin  W.,  25,  42,  199. 

John  S.,  28. 

John  Demetrus,  28,  51,  216. 

John  L.,  29,  221.  « 

John  30,  222. 

John  M.,  30,  53,  224. 

John  David,  34,  61,  243. 

John  R.,  35,  246. 

John  H.,  35,  63,  246. 
.  John  C.  C,  37,  66,  252. 

John  A.,  44,  204. 

John  Frank,  52,  215. 

John  A.,  51,  216. 

John  M.,  266. 

John  E.,  268. 

John  W.,  417,  419. 

Jonathan,  18,  20,  81. 

Jonathan,  25,  44,  204. 

Joel,  417. 

Joseph,  32,  58,  236. 

Joseph,  266. 


Ellis. 
Joseph  P.,  123. 
Josephine,  53. 

Julia  Frances  (Cole),  28,  51,  216. 
Julia  (Mockett),  36,  64,  247. 
J.  A.,  422. 
J.  M.  422. 
Hon.  J.  v.,  420. 
J.  W.,  421. 
Kate  Edna,  62. 
M.T3.  Laura,  214. 
Laura  (Sutton),  26,  45,  206. 
Lavina  A.,  122. 
Lawrence  A.,  54,  227. 
Lodoska  S.  (Benzie),  35,  63,  245. 
Lena  Adela,  02. 
Lewis,  13,  23,  37.  176,  450. 
Lewis,  26,  45,  206. 
Lewis,  207. 
Lewis  M.,  39,  189. 
Lewis  R.,  26,  47,  210. 
Lewis  T.,  66.  252. 
Lester  25,  44,  204. 
Lettie,  56. 

Leonard,  33,  59,  240. 
Levi,  41,  198. 
Levi  L.,  66,  250. 
Levi,  267. 
Lillian  May,  59. 
Lillian,  53. 
Lillie  Phebe,  48,  212. 
Lilly,  38,  185. 
Livenus,  417. 
Lizzie,  223. 

Lois  E.  (Davis),  27,  49,  212. 
Lois  (Jeffrey),  25,  44,  205. 
Hon.  Lorenzo,  420. 
Lorenzo  D.,  23,  38,  188. 
Loien,  417. 
Louella  E.,  59,  239. 
Louisa  (Patterson),  33,  59,  237. 
Louisa,  44. 
Louisa  F,,  59. 
Louisa,  264. 
Lora  Belle,  50. 
Dr.  L.  Stiles,  420. 
Lurena  (Phelps),  20,  131. 
Rev.  Luther,  419. 


466 


INDEX. 


Ellis. 
Lucinda  (Berdine),  30,  52,  223. 
Lucinda  (Henry),  20. 
Lucretia,  32,  235. 
Lucretia  (Btipp),  15,  21,  31,  148. 
Dr.  Lucien  E.,  48,  212. 
Lucius,  417. 
Luke,  122. 

Lucy  E.  (Kingsbury),  218. 
Lucy,  45,  207. 
Luther  P.,  421. 
Lurena,  269. 
Lydia  (Bacon),  20. 
Lydia  E.  (Palmer),  27,  49,  21.3. 
Lydia  (Terry),  33,  242. 
Lydia,  262. 
Lycurgus,  47,  210. 
Lyman,  25,  42,  200. 
Lyman,  417. 
Matthias,  418. 
Matthew,  17,  74,  260. 
Matthew  Clark,  272. 
Marion  H.,  65. 
Maggie  E.,  53,  224. 
Maggie  M.,  52,  222. 
Marion,  31,  230. 
Martha  R.,  59. 
Maria,  217. 
Marcus  A.,  23,  190. 
Marvin,  422. 

Maria  (Salisbury),  23,  38,  188. 
Maria  (Miller),  31,  55,  228. 
Mary,  17. 

Mary  (McKinley,  Tubbs),  24,  192. 
Mary  (Barker),  24,  41,  197. 
Mary  L.  (Morrell),  32,  58,  236. 
Mary  (Clark),  36,  65,  248. 
Mary  L.,  39, 190. 
Mary  E.  G.  (Moreland),  39,  190. 
Mary  E.,  53,  224. 
Mary  Ann,  25,  198. 
Mary  Ann  (Buckner),  28,  50,  214. 
Mary  Ann  (Phillips),  34,  62,  244. 
Mary  Judd  (Gart  James),  26,  45, 

206. 
Mary  Jane  (Stewart;,  28,  215. 
Mary  E.  (Long),  35,  64,  247. 
Mary  L.  (Ranney),  37,  67,  258. 


Ellis. 

Mary  L.,  51,  216. 

Martha,  18,  80. 

Martha  (Wood),  35,  246. 

Martha  Ann,  40. 

Martha,  42,  199. 

Martha,  57,  231. 

Margaret,  30,  223. 

Margaret  J.,  39. 

Mason,  417. 

Marshall,  35.  59,  239. 

Marshall  262. 

Mae  L.,  67,  254. 

Major  E.,  266. 

Mary,  44. 

Mary,  56,  229. 

Mary,  56,  230. 

Mary,  65,  249. 

Mary  ( Durkee),  420, 

Mary  Ann,  263. 

Marvin,  262. 

Martin,  269. 

Melinda  L.,  35,  247. 

Melinda  (Wing),  21,  151,  32. 

Melinda,  33,  238. 

Melvin,  46,  207. 

Dr.  Melvin,  192. 

Mehitable  (Kemp),  20,  27,  134. 

Mehitable  (Robinson),  25,  43,  202. 

Miles  M.,  36,  66,  251. 
'Minerva  (Deuel),  36,  C5,  250. 

M.  Minerva,  37,  67,  251,  255,  427. 

Minnie,  55. 

Minnie  Maria,  61,  215. 

Minnie  May,  50. 

Minor,  45,  207. 

Mina  P.,  59,  240. 

Micah,  418. 

Mose?,  20. 

Moses,  E,  218. 

Mortimer,  421. 

Mordecai,  418. 

Myra,  38,  188. 

Myra  O.,  54,  228. 

Myron,  26,  47,  209. 

Myron,  35,  246. 

Hon.  Myron  H.,  417. 

Nancy  (HoUeman),  34,  61,  242. 


INDEX. 


467 


Ellis. 

Nancy,  46,  207. 

Nathan  H.,  26,  47,  211. 

Nelson,  420. 

Newton  D.,  48,  212. 

Newton  S.,  35,  246. 

Nettie,  272. 

Nevada  A.,  58,  236. 

Nicholas  Groat,  189. 

Noah,  261. 

Nora,  06,  229. 

Norman  R.,  227. 

N.  J.,  420. 

Oakman  A ,  419. 

Olivet,  26,  48,  21 L 

Olmer  R.,  219. 

Oliver  H.,  45. 

Oliver  L.  D.,  38,  189. 

Orman  F.,  33,  60,  241. 

Orman  F.,  59,  240. 

Orlando  S.,  217. 

Orlando  A.,  218. 

Orley  J.,  49. 

Orson  Henry,  28,  51,  215. 

Orra  M.,  59,  238. 

Orson,  31,  230. 

Orson  B.,  221. 

Orison  A.,  272. 

Orville  N.,  419. 

O.  W..  422. 

Paul,  189. 

Permelia,  417. 

Peter,  33,  59,  240. 

Peleg,  420. 

Philip,  418. 

Phebe   (  Chamberlin,  White ),  24, 

41,  198. 
Phebe  (Winslow),  33,  241. 
'  Pierce,  422. 
Hon.  Pitts,  22,  35,  158. 
Pitts  B.,  35,  63.  245. 
Pitts,  36,  65,  248. 
Pliny  P.,  29,  220. 
Polly,  41,  198. 
Polly,  44,  205. 
Polly  (Dimick),  21. 
Polly  (Baker),  36,  65,  250. 
Porter  Z.,  50. 


Ellis. 

Prudence,  25,  43,  201. 

Prudence,  29,  221. 

Prudence,  52. 

Priscilla,  57,  234. 

Raymond  Edwin,  65. 

Rachel,  262. 

Rachel  (Hoyle,  Smith),  25,  201. 

Ralph,  30,  52,  222. 

Ralph,  52. 

Ralph  G.,  58,  236. 

Ralph  N.,  418. 

Rebecca  (Taylor),  21,  33,  154. 

Reuben,  17,  18,  63,  330. 

Reuben,  18,  81. 

Reuben,  20,  26,  134. 

Reuben,  21,  151. 

Reuben,  271. 

Reuben,  75,  270. 

Reuben  E.,  27,  49,  213. 

Reuben  N.,  49. 

Reuben  Hazen,  266. 

Remember,  17,  18,  71,  401,  324. 

Rhoda,  26,  209. 

Rhoda,  47,  210. 

Rhoda,  57,  231. 

Richard  A.,  418. 

Richard,  9,  17,  330,  358,  401. 

Dea.  Richard,  18,  21,  83. 

Richard,  22,  34,  157,  454. 
-  Dea.  Richard,  23,  37,  173,  448. 

Richard,  24,  39,  194. 

Elder  Richard,  21,  147. 

Richard  S.,  29,  216. 

Richard,  31,  56,  229. 

Richard  Claud,  63,  245. 

Roderick  D.,  42,  199. 

Romie  M.,  421. 

Rosetta  H.,  53,  224. 

Robert,  19,  25,  129. 

Robert,  25,  42,  200. 

Russell,  24,  39,  194. 

Ruth  (Hall),  22,  36,  169. 

Rumina  (Potter),  32,  58,  236. 

Rev.  Rufus,  416. 

Russell,  50,  196. 

Russell  B.,  420. 

Ruth,  52. 


468 


INDEX. 


Siimuel  Claudius,  418. 

Sabra,  263. 

Sarah  (Flower),  21, 153. 

Sarah  (Fulton),  24,  40,  196. 

Sarah  J.  (Willobee),  28,  50,  214. 

Subnut,  18,  83. 

Samuel  Gilbert,  30,  53,  224. 

Samuel,  32,  58,  235. 

Samuel,  61. 

Sarah  Alice  (Hart),  28,  51,  217. 

Sarah  (Wilson),  33,  60,  240. 

Sarah  Ann,  44. 

Sarah,  55,  228. 

Sarah  M.,  271. 

Sarah  Ann,  263. 

Sarah  M.  (Cole),  272. 

Sabra,  263. 

Dr.  Samuel  G.,  416. 

Seymour  D.,  54,  228. 

Seth,  2«3. 

Shalon  W.,  267. 

Simon  VV.,  54,  228. 

Sophronia  (Mockett),  36,   64,  247. 

Sophia,  417. 

Squire,  19,  128. 

Stephen  B.,  264. 

Stephen,  20,  25,  130. 

Susan  v.,  62. 

Susan,  422. 

Sylvia  (fielding),  19. 

Sylvia  (Sprague),  22,  33,  154. 

Sylvia  Jane  (Kishler),  34,  63,  245. 

Tamer  (Vanderbilt),  22,  34,  156. 

Thankful  (Phillips),  30,  54,  225. 

Theodora  C,  39,  194. 

Thomas,  19,  24,  128. 

Thomas,  25,  41,  198. 

Thomas,  jr.,  41,  198. 

Timothy,  417. 

Tryphena,  418. 

Uriah  S.,  220. 

Van  R.,  28,  214. 

Vespasian,  22. 

Vial,  24,  197. 

Vial  F.,  40. 

Violet,  229. 

Walter,  422. 


Ellis. 

Warren,  62. 

Warren,  262. 

Warren  B.,  217. 

Wayland,  272. 

Welbore,  415. 

Wilbur  D.,  7,  38,  269,  359. 

William,  264. 

WilUam,  21,  152. 

William,  31,  56,  229. 

William,jr.,  32,  57,  231. 

Wniiam,  41,  198. 

William,  42,  200. 

William  M.,  56,  229. 

William  B.,  422. 

Hon.  William  Cox,  422. 

William  Avery,  28,  51,  215,  418. 

William  A.,  44. 

Willie  Alton,  59,  213. 

William  Edwin,  58,  235. 

William  Ebenezer,  64. 

William  E.,  67,  254. 

William  Burton,  264. 

William  F.,  30,  52,  222. 

W.  D..  270. 

William  P.,  421. 

William  Walter,  51,  215. 

William  M.,  34,  62,  244. 

William  N.,  35. 

Wilson  R.,  52,  222. 

Winnifred,  211. 

W\  D.,  419. 

W.  R.,  419,  422. 

W.  C,  421. 

Zellar,  208. 


Andrews,  James  Seward,  256. 

Capt.  John  L.,  256. 

Josephine,  256. 

Marion,  256. 

Sally,  387. 
Acker,  Eliza,  48,  212. 
Adams,  Amanda,  58,  236. 

PhiUnda  L.,  48,  212. 

Gov.  Samuel,  86,  326. 

Stewart  S.,  166. 


INDEX. 


469 


A«ry,  John,  429. 

David,  428. 

Thomas,  428. 
Albro,  Minerva,  199. 
Allis,  Lois,  82. 
Allen,  Amasa  P.,  272. 

Alice  D.,  270. 

Clarence,  270. 

Darwin  E.,  270. 

Raymond,  270. 
Allyn,  Sidney,  61,  233. 

Elisha,  61,  243. 

Indiana,  61,  243. 
Alden  Family,  364,  365,  390. 

Isaac,  90. 

John,  90. 

John,  301. 
Aldrich,  Mrs.  Emma  F.,  141. 
Amerman  Emma,  246. 
Ames,  Hattie  Jane,  135. 

Gov.  Oliver,  459. 
Anesley,  Wm.,  55,  228. 

Carrie,  55,  229. 

Henry,  55,  229. 

Mary,  56,  229. 
Annable  Family,  365,  370. 

Elder  Barnabas,  366,424, 

Desire,  94. 

Lieut.  Edward,  92. 

Edwin  R.,  96. 

Fernando  C,  94,  390,  447. 

Helen,  96. 
431,  439. 

Mehitable,  94. 

Polly  or  Mary,  23,  116,  425. 

Remember,  95. 

Rhoda,  94. 

Ruth,  426,  431,  438.  _ 

Samuel,  jr.,  93. 
Avery,  Eld.  Benj.  G.,  31,  148. 

Fannie,  135. 

James  T.,  147. 

Julia  Ann,  217. 

Lyman,  135. 

Malvina,  135. 

Mary,  135. 

Dr.  Mary  P.,  148. 

Mrs.  Dr.,  168. 


Avery,  Richard  B.,  148. 

Sarah,  135. 

Thomas  W.,  148. 

Walter,  27,  135. 

William  C,  149. 
Baker,  Thomas  W.,  65,  250. 

Clara,  65,  250. 

Ellis,  65,  250. 

Emma,  65,  250. 
Balcom,  Dr.  Isaac,  158. 
Bacon,  Col.  Daniel  H.,  28, 143. 

Eunice,  28,  144. 

Nancy,  28,  144. 

Lewis,  28,  144. 

Chloe,  28,  144. 

Oliver,  28,  144. 

Hannah,  28,  144. 
Barling,  Lewis,  158. 
Babcock,  Adelia,  106. 

Perry  E.,  105. 

Balcom,  Lucia  M.,  35,  158. 
Barker,  Maria  L.,  40,  196. 

Leonardo.,  41,  197. 

Fannie,  189. 

Thurston,  197. 

Samuel,  220. 

Richard  E.,  220. 
Barney,  Electa  A.,  39,  190. 
Barrett,  Elizabeth  A.,  194. 
Bartlett  Family,  370,  436.  * 

Hannah,  264. 

Moses,  132. 

Dr.  Phineas,  317. 
Barr,  John,  219. 
Barrett,  Amasa,  194. 
Balch,  Mary  E.,  386. 
Bassett  Family,  407. 

Julia  A.,  391. 
Belding  Family,  117,  371,  373. 

Annabel,  37,  170. 

Aretus,  23,  186. 

Asher,  23,  117. 

Chandler,  23,  187. 

Jane,  23,  186. 

John  D.,  37,  173. 

Ebenezer,  23,  186. 

Edward,  186. 

Edward  E.,  37,  170. 


470 


INDEX. 


Belding,  Ellen  M.,  37,  173. 

Thomas,  23,  187. 

Tiberius,  37,  169. 

Volney,  23,  186. 

FrancU  W.,  37,  170. 

Priscilla  A.,  37,  172. 

Waite,  37,  173. 

Sophia  S.,  258. 

Hiram,  116,  117,  456. 
Bement,  Dea  John,  389. 
Bentley,  Johnson,  105. 
Benzie,  Alex.  K.,  63,  245. 

Dottie  L.,  63. 

George  N.,  63. 

Ida  May,  63. 

Harold,  63. 

Minnie  L.,  63. 
Bell,  Sarah  Ann,  217. 

Maj.  James  R.,  217. 
Beamer,  Margaret,  42,  199. 
Berdine,  D.  H.,  223, 

Helen,  52. 

Henry,  52. 

Ralph,  52. 

Matilda,  52,  223. 

Peter,  52,  223. 
Birch,  Clarissa,  36,  lti2. 
BoUes,  Sarah,  47,  211. 

Mrs.  E.  L.,  96. 
Bishop,  Benj.  F.,  230. 

Ira,  230. 
Bissell,  Lura,  250. 
Blakeslee,  Albert  G.,  98. 
Black,  Annie  L.,  235. 
Blue,  Chloe,  55,  227. 
Bower,  Erastus,  98. 
Boynton,  Wm.,  174,  456. 
Brinkerhoff,  -Joseph  W.,  249. 
Bradley,  R.  A.,  230. 

Hannah,  34,  157. 
Broughton,  Ella,  225. 
Brink,  Jane,  191. 
Brooks,  Caleb,  261. 

Joseph,  261. 

Mary,  261. 

William,  261. 
Bruce,  Alanscn,  210. 

Mary  Jane,  51,  216. 


Bryant,  Joseph,  100. 

Phebe  Charter,  101. 
Buchner.  Daniel,  50,  214. 

Nellie  M.,  50. 
Buck,  Jasper,  204. 

Mary  E.,  224. 
Burke,  Harriet  M.,  268. 
Burr,  Anna,  158. 
Butler,  Ira,  108,  426. 
Budd,  Ada  S.,  207. 
Bush,  Hattie,  224. 
Button,  Clarissa  M.,  235. 
Button,  Eliza,  388. 

Alex.  M.,  235. 
Camp,  Mary,  65,  249. 
Canfield,  Rosetta,  53,  224. 
Carpenter,  Abel,  121. 

Clara  C,  272. 

Elmer,  121. 
Case,  Zilpha  B.,  39,  189. 

Charles.  252. 
Caskey,  Aurelia  C,  184. 
Chaffin,  Rev.  AVm.  L.,  7,  377,  459. 
Chapin,  Nathan,  374.  , 
Charter,  James,  jr.,  100. 

John,  100. 

Charles,  101. 

Phebe  Phillips,  101. 
Chase,  Rev.  Supply,  72,  191. 
Choat,  Sally,  119. 
Childs,  Samuel,  311. 
Chapel,  Lorena,  55,  228. 
Chamberlin,  Dr.,  109. 

John,  41,  198. 

Myrtle,  110. 

Anne,  268. 
Chittenden,  Curtis,  260. 

H.  Delta,  260. 
Chaffe,  Aggie,  151,  228, 

John,  151. 

W.  M.,  31,  151. 
Chace,  Aquilla,  261. 
Chapman,  Asa,  167. 

Permelia,  168. 

Comfort,  23. 

Darius,  23. 

Elisha,  23. 

John,  23. 


471 


Chapman,  Sidney,  23. 

Squire,  23. 

Leonora  M.,  37,  167. 
Chrismao,  Betsey,  42,  200. 
Cliilson,  Chloe,  86. 

Eunice,  83.  86. 
Chisam,  Cynthia  Ann,  270. 
Cleveland,  Ellen  M.,  66,  250. 
Clark,  Alexander,  261. 

Alvan,  jr.,  407. 

Emily  A.,  39,  194. 

Frank,  65,  248. 

Clara  E.,  65,  248, 

Pamelia,  40,  195. 

Samuel,  65,  248. 

Hannah,  260. 

William,  260. 

James,  261. 

Joel  D.,  269. 

Mrs.  Jane  B.,  191. 
Clogston,  Roxana,  266. 
Closson,  Jennie,  225. 
Conklin,  George,  250. 
Coats,  Reuben  E.,  230. 

Wm.  H.,  231. 

Charles,  57,  230. 
Coit,  George,  183. 

Harvey,  183. 

Rev.  Joseph,  184. 

Mary  E.,  38,  183. 
Cook.  Levi,  335. 

Edward  L.,  203. 

Martha  A.,  39,  194. 

Crell,  Hattie,  199. 
Corson,  Chester,  146. 
Cooper,  Gulielma  W.,  106. 
Cook,  Dr.  Henry  H.,  142. 

Emily  D.,  142. 
Coburn,  Susanah,  25,  131. 
Cole,  Mary  A.,  272. 

Sarah  M.,  272. 

Frank  A.,  272. 

Elbert  D.,  272. 

Walter  G.,  272. 

Peter,  272. 

Archie,  51. 

Angeline,  46,  208. 

William,  40,  208. 


Cole,  Lewis,  46,  208. 

Wm.  Bradley,  51,  216. 

William,  61,  242. 

Edwin,  61,  242. 
Cramer,  Mary,  219. 
Crew,  Curtis  240. 
Cross,  Darius,  387. 
Cromwell,  Oliver,  298. 
Crouch,  Mary,  19,  79 
Cross,  Louisa,  102. 
Cronk,  William,  192. 

Joseph,  192. 
'Curtis,  Lurilda,  47,  109. 
Curtis,  Hon.  Geo.  Wm.,  322,  335. 

William,  353. 
Curkendall,  Jane,  160. 
Cullen,  Maggie,  226. 
Cunningham,  Lester  E.,  205. 

John  R.,  205. 

Silas  A.,  205. 
Curley,  Sarah  E  ,  227. 
Daniels,  Aug.  Fred.,  387. 
Davis,  Nancy,  258. 
Davenport,  Dr.,  153. 

Mrs.  Melinda  Jane,  153. 

Violet,  59,  240. 
Davis,  William  R.,  49,  212. 

Alice,  222. 
Daws?y,  Christina,  263. 
Davidson,  Geo.,  112, 
Day,  Julia,  170 
Dawes,  Hon.  Henry  L.,  360. 
Dean,  Andrew,  64,  248. 

Asa,  64,  248. 

Ellis,  64,  248. 

Mabel,  64,  248. 

Mary,  64,  248. 

Nellie,  M.,  64,  248. 
Deming,  Solomon  H.,  356. 
Deuel,  Edward  H.,  65,  250. 

Mary  Jane,  65,  250. 
Deitz,  Amelia,  173. 
Dewey.  Sarah,  265. 
Dickinfeon,  Louisa,  264. 
Dickson,  Christina,  458, 
DiMicK  Family,  375. 

Molly  or  Mary,  19,  78. 

Hannah,  428. 


472 


INDEX. 


Dimick,  Orilla,  30,  147, 

Paul  N.,  31,  148. 
Doane,  Nellie,  63,  245. 
Donaldson,  Anna,  56,  229. 

A  Hie,  56,  230. 
Doty,  Rush  C,  225. 
Dow,  Chester  P.,  203. 

Nancy,  261. 

William,  261. 
Doust,  Louisa  S.,  189. 
Drake,  Eliza  C,  168. 

Elizabtth,  16. 

Francis  M.,  168. 

Jacob  G.,  204. 
Dunn,  Marie n,  271. 

David  L.,  270. 

William,  271. 
Dunks,  Nancy,  47,  209. 
Duran,  Kate,  24,  193. 

William,  193. 
Duryee,  Benjamin,  112.  . 

Elizabeth,  249. 
Dymock,  Eld.  Thomas,  78. 
Dyke,  Martha  M.,  237. 
Earl,  Alma,  189. 
Eastman,  Diaploma,  262. 
Eddy,  Martha  A.,  266. 

Ruth,  266. 
Emory,  Capt.  Hiram,  193. 
Elmer,  Gad,  439. 

Keziah,  96. 

Wilson,  96. 

Samuel,  373. 
English,  Richard,  145. 

Lee,  228. 
Enos,  Gertie  A.,  196. 
Evans,  Abbie,  195. 
Everts,  Caroline  W.,  52,  222. 

Dr.  T.  C,  222. 
Evert,  Samantha,  200. 
Fairbanks,  Elizabeth,  219. 

Daniel  W.,  220. 
Fairchild,  Eliza  Ann,  28,  141. 

Henry,  141. 

John,  141. 
Faulkner,  Elizabeth,  30,  146. 
Fay,  Bertha,  229. 

Roxana,  48,  212. 


Felts,  Eliza  J.,  209. 

George  W.,  209. 
Ferry,  Hon.  Thos.  White,  33-5. 
Field,  Edgar,  387. 
Finn,  Mrs.  T.,  96. 
Flower  Family,  373,  374. 

Maj.  Lamrock,  111. 

Bildad,  111. 

Dorcas,  112. 

Horatio,  152. 

W.  H.,  152. 

James  G.,  153. 

Ruth,  175. 

Lizzie,  239. 

Rev.  Josiah,  239. 

Calvin,  102. 

Hannah,  156. 

Polly.  34. 

Amanda,  22,  111. 

Dr.  Clarissa  A  ,  32,  153. 

David  E.,  32,  153. 

Lydia,  32,  153. 

Melinda  Jane,  32,  153. 

Capt.  James,  32,  153. 

Sally  H.,  32,  153. 

Dr.  William  5^,,  32,  153. 

Dr.  Phineas  D.,  32,  153. 

Rhoda,  32,  152. 

Rumina,  33,  154. 

Hon.  Roswell  P.,  374. 
Floyd,  Matilda,  208. 
Foote,  Ella,  104. 

Sidney,  104. 

Cathatine,  104. 

Florence,  104. 

Elias,  265. 
Forbush,  Amanda,  112,  423. 
.   Huldah,  112. 

Rev.  Lyman,  112. 

Elizabeth,  112. 

Mind  well,  112. 

Minerva,  112. 
Forbes,  Mrs.  Eunice,  360. 
Fox,  Chauncy  J.,  272. 
Former,  Eliza,  53,  224. 

Margaret,  53,  224. 
Fritts,  John,  141. 

A  Ivan,  141. 
Freeman,  Helen,  49,  213. 


INDEX. 


473 


Freaman,  Amos  E.,  197. 
French,  Harriet,  58,  286. 
Frost,  Alnieda,  272. 

Rev.  A.  F.,  335. 
France,  Ada  S.,  221. 
Franklin,  Jabez,  76,  125. 

Aaron,  124. 

James  H ,  125. 

Harry  J.,  126. 

Neil  S.,  126. 
Fuller,  Capt.  Mo^e;*,  333,  359. 

George,  193. 

Clara  V.,  189. 

Dr.  Chauncy,  153. 

Desiah,  94. 

John,  94. 

Mary,  42,  199. 

Saral),  269. 
.  Mercy,  270. 

Edward  L..  94. 

Dr.  Clarissa  A.,  153. 

Adelbert,  193. 

Maggie,  193. 
Fulton,  Caleb,  19,  120. 

David,  Jr.,  40,  195. 

Charles  N.,  40,  195. 

Clark,  122. 

Anna,  122. 

Daniel,  19,  121. 

David,  19,  121. 

Rev.  Delancy,  123. 

Elijah,  19,  124. 

JohnC,  121. 

Elisha,  120. 

Joseph,  120. 

Oaylord,  123. 

James,  19,  78. 

James,  40,  195. 

James,  Jr.,  19,  119. 

Hiram,  122. 

Jesse,  19,  124. 

Lucretia,  19,  121. 

Nathan.  19,  124. 

Robert,  19,  119,  266. 

Robert,  75,  124. 

Ruel,  123. 

Roxie,  123. 

Sarah,  19,  125,  75. 


Fulton,  Thomas,  40,  195. 
Fulkerson,  Mary  E.,  236. 

Ralph  E.,  237. 
Gallant,  Adaline,  270. 
Gard,  Adaline,  45,  206. 

Henry,  45,  206. 

Harriet,  45,  206. 

Sutherland,  45,  206. 

Samantha,  45,  206. 
Geer,  Sarah,  57,  231. 

William,  98. 
Gilbert,  Wm.,  192. 
Gillmore,  W.  B.,  266. 
Gillespie,  William,  103. 
Given,  Andrew,  269. 
Grant,  Frances,  195. 
Granger,  James,  173. 

Frank,  173. 

Carl,  173. 
Gray,  L.  F.  &  W.  H.,  332,  363. 
Greeley,  Samuel  E.,  265. 
Green,  Diana,  49,  213. 
Grinnell,  Ruth,  102. 
Gregory,  Mary  S.,  39,  190. 

Williams..  190. 
Goodwin,  Anson,  391. 

Maria  Jane,  391, 
Goodnough,  Nancy,  192. 
Goulding,  Charles  L.,  98. 
Gunn,  Alex.  Marcus,  255. 

Marcu",  255. 

John  C,  255. 
Hamilton,  Milo  D.,  166. 
Hall,  Abilena,  160. 

George,  36,  160. 

Horace,  160. 

Joshua,  331. 

Prof.  J.  Stanley,  322,  394. 

S.  Woodbridge,  388. 

Samuel,  394. 

Allen,  394. 

A.  G.,  394. 
Hagerman,  Mary,  33,  155. 
Hart,  John  H  ,  51,  216. 

Bertrand  E.,  51,  216. 
Havens,  George,  27,  136. 

John  West,  27,  137. 

Lois,  27,  136. 


474 


INDEX. 


Havens,  Nathaniel,  27,  136. 

Lyman,  27,  137. 

Miranda,  27,  137. 

Submit,  27,  137. 

Sarah  Ann,  27,  136. 
Hardy,  Permelia,  269. 
Hankens,  Mary,  270. 
Harvey,  Esther,  72. 
Hathaway,  Charles  S.,  386. 

Col.  Nehemiah,  386. 
Harroun,  John,  313. 

C.  S.  D.,  307,  455. 
Harris,  Anthony,  232. 
Harris,  Charles  T.,  43,  201. 

Eliza,  43. 

Lester  E.,  43. 

Lucetta  D.,  43. 

Stephen,  43. 

Susan,  43,  202. 

Sarah,  57,  232. 

Desire,  131. 

Hopkins,  201. 
Hastings,  Philena,  124. 

J.  L.,  244. 
Harrison,  Gen,  Wm.  H.,  130. 
Harrington,  Geo.,  155. 
Hawks,  Zadoc,  354. 
Hayes,  Jennie  S.,  50,  214. 
Henry,  David,  29, 145. 

John,  14. 

Charles,  29,  145. 

Louisa,  29,  145. 

Mary,  29,  145. 

Lydia,  29,  145. 
Herrington,  Charles,  30, 146. 

Deroy,30,  147. 

Jacob,  30,  146. 

Patience,  30,  147. 

Nanc>',  30. 

Reuben,  30,  146. 

Harriet,  30,  147. 

Horace  P.,  30,  147. 

George  W.,  30,  146. 

Sarah  Ann,  30,  146. 

Vernon,  196. 
Heber  (Honestman),  333. 
Hibbard,  Lee  B.,  197. 
Hiltabidle,  Hiram,  203. 


Hill,  Charles,  103,  451. 

Mary,  56,  229. 
Holmes.  Maria,  51,  215. 

Elizabeth,  147. 
Holleman,  H.  W.,  61,  242. 

Elizabeth,  61,  242. 
Horn,  Ellen,  125. 
Hood,  Mrs.  Letta  A.,  256. 
Hosford,  Charles,  120. 
Howes,  Barnabas,  304. 

Frederick  G..302,  321,  329,  355. 

Capt.  Kimbal,  394. 
Howard,  Abigail,  26,  134. 

Mrs.  Erastus,  265. 

Mark,  192. 
Hoyle,  Joseph,  201. 

Ellsworth,  201. 
Hoyt,  Edson  H.,  213. 

Arthur  H.,  213. 
Humphrey,  Mary.  123. 
Huntington,  Emily,  130. 

Martha,  130. 
Hunt,  Capt.  Ephraim,  277,  395. 

Hiram,  270. 
Hubbard,  Isaac  N.,  204. 
Hubert,  Nancy  D,  209. 
James,  James,  45,  206. 

Laura  Ann,  45,  206. 

Moses,  45,  206. 
Jeffrey,  Charlotte,  44,  204. 

John,  44,  205. 

Jane,  44,  205. 
JohnBo.i,  Martha  E.,  199. 
Jones,  Mrs.  Jane  E.,  205. 
Judd,  Elizabeth,  26,  132. 
Kellerman,  Lizzie  F.,  124. 
Kearney,  Alice,  190. 
Kemp,  Lawrence,  27,  135. 
Keyes,  Margaret  A.,  62,  244. 
King,  Alanson,  184. 

Catharine,  184. 

Charles  D.,  28,  142. 

Eliza,  173. 

Harriet,  207. 

Emily  D.,  28,  142. 

Elizabeth,  26,  134. 

Ethel.  142. 

Galusha,  145. 


475. 


King,  Hiram,  185. 

Hugh,  145. 

Wm.  W.,  28,  142. 

William  R.,  142. 
Kingsbury,  Charles,  218. 
Kishler,  Annie,  63. 

Charles,  63. 

Mary,  63. 

John,  63,  245. 

Porter  S.,  63. 
Lanfair,  Leonard  D.,  11,  330. 
Lanphere,  Mrs.  Fanny,  120. 
Langley,  .John,  130. 
Lassell,  Joseph.  132. 
Lawrence,  Edwin,  94. 

John  F.,  94. 

Louisa,  219. 
Leffingwell,  Lemuel,  203. 

J.  A.,  207. 
Lewis,  Laura,  243. 
Leonard,  Ezekiel  C,  184. 

Joseph,  184. 

Sarah  M.,  38,  184. 

Theodore  M.,  180,  184. 

Seth,  184. 
Leys,  Maggie  S.,  190. 
Livermore,  Amelia  E.,  262. 
Lincoln,  Capt.  Samuel,  22,  107,  318. 

Anne,  22,  108. 

Benjamin,  22,  107. 

Hannah,  22, 108,  450. 

MarUla,  22,  109. 

Betsey,  22,  110. 

Phebe,  22,  108. 

Polly,  22,  110. 

Thomas,  22,  107,  446,  450. 

Manly  B.,  108. 

Americus  C,  108. 

Mrs.  Rosetta  C,  224. 
Lillie,  Jonathan,  373. 
Lockwood,  E.  Antoinette,  67,  254. 

Edward.  254. 
Locke,  Maggie,  56,  229. 
Long,  Vincent,  64,  247. 

Arnold,  Villroy,  64,  247. 

Charles  R.,  64,  247. 

Sylvester  H.,  64,  247. 

Anna  E.,  269. 


Lovell,  Mary,  29,  146. 

Lowell,  Hon.  Jas.  Rtissell,  276,  334> 

Lyon  Family,  238,  376. 

Aaron,  238,  376. 

David,  295,  376,  437. 

Chloe,  238. 

Eunice  B.,  59,  238. 

Mary,  238,  276,  334,  452. 

Marshall,  238. 

Mrs.  Emily  H.,  386. 

Dea.  Cyrus,  390. 

Hon.  T.  T.,  190. 
Luce,  Lydia,  213. 
Mace,  Henry  C,  265. 

Henry  O.,  265. 

Fred.  E.,  265. 
Mann,  John,  70. 

Charles  W.,  330. 

Hon.  Horace,  81.  t 

LoLs,  81,  134. 
Martin,  Mehitable  B.,  38,  188. 

Hannah,  155. 
Maine,  Helen  E..  210. 
Mathers,  Sarah  Jane,  146. 
Matthews,  Sybil,  199. 
Markley,  Samuel,  217. 
Mallory,  Adelia  E.,  240. 
Mauk,  Sarah  F.,  239. 

Jacob, 239. 
McCreles,  Sarah,  310. 
McCleary,  Jane,  63,  246. 
McCartney,  Hannah,  217. 
McCoy,  Florence,  270. 
Mc(jee,  Phebe,  155. 
McKenzie,  Mary  B.,  235. 
McNew,  Elmer,  270. 

Joseph,  270, 

Grinaldo  O.,  270. 
McKissic,  Charles,  197. 
McKinley,  Wm.,  192. 

John,  192. 
McLane,  Sylvia,  105. 
Medbury,  William,  155. 
Menzie,  John  E.,  234. 
Merrick,  Maria,  147. 
Merrill,  Jesse,  96. 

Rhoda,  96. 
Minor,  Ann,  193. 


476 


INDEX. 


Minor,  Capt.  Wm.,  193. 
Miller,  Alvin  E.,  263. 

Fred.  C,  263. 

John  J.,  55,  228. 

Katie,  55,  228. 

Nettie,  55,  228. 

H.  D.,  263. 

Nelson,  263. 

Hugh  B.,  75. 

Rev.  CO.,  191. 

R.  P.,  217. 
Mills,  Prof.  F.  B.,  222. 

Zilpha,  81. 
Moors,  Rev.  J.  F.,  92. 
Mockett,  Eliza  J.,  64,  248. 

John  H.,  64,  247. 

Edwin  R.,  64,  247. 

Ebenezer  E.,  64,  247. 

Ffederick  E.,  64,  247. 

Edith  T.,  64,  247. 

Richard  H.,  64,  247. 

Robert  S ;  64,  247. 
Morrell,  Jonathan,  58,  236. 

Frank,  58. 

Marcus  L.,  58. 
Morse,  Hon.  A.  B.,  171,  455. 

Julia  A.,  265. 

William,  267. 

Mrs.  Annabel  P.,  170. 

Charles  F.,  170. 

Lewis  Ellis,  170. 
Morey,  Jane  E.,  272. 
Mosher,  Rev.  Wilson,  174,  457. 
Moreland,  D.  H.,  190. 

Lois  C,  190. 
Moore,  Henry,  199. 
Mullens,  Priscilla,  301,  390. 
Needham,  Horace  C,  221. 
Nelson,  Martha  E.,  60,  241. 
Newcomb,  Abigail,  264. 
Newhouse,  Lydia,  270. 
Newton,  Oliver  L„  204. 
Nichols,  George,  188. 
Niles,  Charles,  210. 
Desiah,  201. 
Reuben  C,  202. 
Nightingale,  Samuel,  332. 
Jf  orton,  Joshna  F.,  204. 


Norton,  Prof.  C.  E.,  334. 

Margaret,  28,  138. 
Noyes,  Dr.  Justin,  1 90. 

Mary  G.,  190. 
Oldfield,  Robert  W.,  205. 

Frank,  205. 

Lucius  E.,  205. 

Robert  C ,  205. 

William  T.,  205. 
Ormsby,  Desiah,  94. 

Caleb  N.,  94. 
Osborn,  Ella  V.,  272. 
Otis,  Avery,  192. 
Orten,  Thomas,  270. 
Owen,  Francis  A.,  237. 

Robert  Dale,  441. 

David  Dale,  447. 
Pattrell,  Elenor  V.,  267. 
Patterson,  Ida  E.,  237. 

Robert,  59,  237. 

Joseph  E.,  59,  237. 

Williams.,  59,  237. 

Louisa  E.,  87. 
Paddock,  Geo.,  38,  188. 

Henry  A.,  38,  188. 

Maria,  38,  188. 
Palmer,  Almerian  S.,  49,  213. 

Emeline  B.,  49,  213. 

Horatio  R.,  49,  213. 
Phelps,  Alvah,  131. 

David,  L.,  131. 

Benjamin,  131. 

John,  26,  131. 

John  W.,  26,  121. 

Lurena,  131. 

Ruth.  131. 

Susanah, 131. 
Phillips  Family,  372,  383. 

Abilena,  22,  111. 

Alice,  54,  225. 

Dr.  Alonzo  P.,  98,  338,  379. 

Allen,  102. 

Caleb,  16. 

Charles  N.,  54,  226. 

D.  Charlton,  54,  225. 

Clarence,  54,  226. 

Delvin  D.,  54,  225. 

Charles  N.,  62. 


INDEX. 


477 


Phillips,  Ellis  D.,  54,  225. 

Eva  O.,  62,  244. 

Hannah,  18,  102,  451. 

Galusha,  103,  451. 

Monroe,  103. 

Elizabeth,  104,  451. 

Jane  (or  Jean),  16,  17. 

Capt.  John,  10. 

John,  18,  74,  99. 

John  W.,  62,  244. 

James  E.,  62,  244. 

Jennie  O.,  62. 
.  Joshua,  16. 

Marcy,  18,  100. 

Molly,  18,  99. 

Nicholas,  16. 

Otto,  62. 

Theodocia,  36,  159,  383. 

Percis,  18,  99. 

Phebe,  18,  100. 

Richard,  16. 

Rachel,  54,  225. 

Russell,  102. 

Sally,  18,  101. 

Sarah,  103. 

Samuel,  16. 

Samuel,  62,  244. 

Sylvester  D.,  54,  225. 

Vespasian,  111. 

Wm.  D.,  54,  225. 
Parker,  Marcus,  393. 
Paine,  Rev.  Dr.  Wra.  P.,  360. 
.  Hon.  Elijah,  392. 
Payne,  John,  207. 

Edwin  C,  207. 
Pease,  Wm.,  226. 
Peck,  Abigail,  266. 

Alfred  C,  263. 

Arthur  D.,  263. 

Artie  J.,  263. 

Ira,  263. 

Lucinda  E.,  264. 

Richard,  123. 

Horace,  123. 
Pettit,  James,  268. 

Lillie,  268. 

Irving,  268. 
Pike,  Ruth,  81. 


Pierce,  Francis  A.,  194. 
Porter,  Rev.  Charles  S.,  360. 

Rev.  Nehemiah,  304. 

Lewis,  333. 
Potter,  Sally  H.,  153. 

John,  58,  236. 

Gilbert  E.,  58,  236. 

William.  112. 
Powers,  Almira.  48,  211. 
Pratt,  Frank,  190. 

Orpha,  126. 
Preston,  G.  J.,  266. 
Pritchard,  Alonzo,  109. 

Jane,  109. 

George,  109. 

Sheldon  C,  109. 

Solomon,  109. 

Mary,  109. 
Purvis,  John,  147. 
Pye,  Inez,  230. 
Ranney  Family,  383,  392. 

Betsey,  96. 

Carrie  L.,  67,  258. 

Ellis  W..  67,  258. 

Fred.  E.,  67,  268. 

Hattie,  B.,  67,  258. 

Henry  Sears,  273,  297,  320,  329, 
332,  355,  390,  393,  408,  412. 

Charle=,  70. 

George  E  ,  175,  385. 

Dr.  George  E.,  391. 

Hon.  Luke,  390. 

Frederick  T.,  386. 

Erastus,  387. 

Edwin,  388. 

Hannah,  37,  70,  175. 

James,  387. 

Jesse,  70,  330,  175. 
Rathburn,  Dr.  John.  90. 
Rawson,  Betsey  F.,  123. 
Reem,  Charles,  98. 
Rexford,  Chloe,  54,  226. 

Job,  54,  226. 

Nancy  O.,  54,  22?. 

Perry  E.,  54,  Itl. 

Stella,  54,  227. 
Reno,  Neal,  243. 
Reilly,  E.  J,  253. 


478 


INDEX. 


Rhodes,  Julia.  107. 
Rice,  Rebecca,  52,  221. 
Richmond,  Elijah,  96. 

Amanda  R.,  96. 

AlansoD,  388. 
Richardson,  Freeman,  98. 

Mrs.  Rebecca,  98. 

Arunah,  98. 

Mrs.  D.  M.,  457. 
Ritcbmyer,  James,  225. 
Rodig,  Dr.  C.  J.,  62,  244. 

Johanna,  62,  244. 

Lena,  62,  244. 
Rose,  Olive  L.,  65,  248. 

John,  110. 
Robinson,  Filander  H.,  47,  210. 

Edmund  ?:.,  47,  211. 

Lewis,  43,  202. 

Elias,  43,  202. 

Eunice,  43,  203. 

Erastus,  43,  203. 

Rachel  M.,  43,  203. 

W.,  266. 

Minerva,  203. 

Martilla,  203. 
Rounds,  Nat.,  122. 
Rogers,  Charles,  331. 
Rouse,  Samuel  G.,  146,  221. 
Russell,  Harriet,  61,  243. 
Kugg,  Thomas  Merrill,  265. 

George  E.,  265. 

Chester,  265. 

Luvina  L.,  265. 
Sandei-son,  Rev.  Alvan,  290. 
■■Salisbury.  Hiram,  38,  188. 

Hannah,  24, 

David,  188. 

Christina  G.,  23.  127. 
Salsbury,  Elisha,  38,  188. 
Sadler,  John,  333. 
Sanford,  Augustus,  192. 
Sawtelle,  Dr.  Mary  P.,  148. 
Satterlee,  M.  P.,  272. 
Schusler,  Susan,  55,  228. 
Schconover,  Martha,  53,  223. 

Matilda,  146. 
Scott,  Mehitable,  18,  70. 
Richard,  70. 


Scranton,  Stella  B.,  103. 
Sears,  Achsah,  389. 

Paul,  389,  393. 

Rowland,  393. 
Seeley,  Betsey,  31,  150. 

Lewis,  150. 
Selover,  Edgar,  250. 

Gertrude,  66,  250. 

Catherine,  35, 158. 

Mary  P..  34, 157. 

Isaac,  157. 
Shaw,  Dr.  E.  J.,  227. 

Dea.  John,  186. 

Asher,  185. 
Sherman,  Cynthia,  41,  198. 

Mahala  M.,  239. 
Sherwin,  Rev.  Jacob,  332. 

Prof.  W.  F.,  325. 
Shepard,  Rev.  Thomas,  275,  297. 

Dea.  Isaac,  397. 

Jemima  (Smith),  397,  404. 
Sheldon,  Hon.  Geo.,  322,  325. 

Amasa,  24,  128. 

Robert,  24,  128. 

Parley,  24,  128. 

William,  24,  128. 
Shepardson,  Lucy,  72. 
Shultis,  Judson,  245. 
Simons,  John,  56,  230. 

Katie,  56,  230. 
Skidmore,  Helen  M.,  50,  213. 

Nancy,  270. 

Rachel,  Jane,  270. 
Slade,  Lloyd,  253. 
Smith  Family,  398, 407. 

Betsey,  24. 

Aaron,  71,  97,  403. 

Chileab,  Jr.,  406. 

Chileab,  Sr.,  13,  71. 

Dr.  Enos,  335.  , 

David,  201. 

Amos,  57,  225. 

C^rus  E.,  57,  235. 

Cordelia  L.,  57,  235. 

John  B.,  57,  235. 

William  E.,  57,  235. 

Elder  Ebenezer,  15,  18,  71,  338, 
40a 


INDEX. 


479 


Smith,  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  18,  96,  403. 

Gerry,  97,  98. 

Frances,  203. 

Henry  Elias,  215. 

Irene,  18,  90. 

Israel,  97. 

Jemima,  18,  92. 

Obed,  18.  98. 

Houghton  Z.,  407. 

Lucretia,  426. 

Rev.  Preserved,  Sr.,  18,  90. 

Rev.  Preserved,  Jr.,  91,  99. 

Ziba,  401,  407. 

Quartus,  97. 

Rebecca,  98. 

Rhoda,  18,  96. 

William  E.,  215. 

Richard.  18,  99. 
Snj'der,  John  D.,  172. 

Kate,  199. 
Sprague,  Almerian,  33,  155. 

Delilah,  33,  155. 

Dorliska,  33,  155. 

John,  33,  155. 

Ebenezer,  33,  155. 

Lodoska,  33,  155. 

Mrs.  Catharine,  96. 

William.  96. 
Spencer,  Orrilla,  237.     ' 

Amanda,  29,  145. 
'  Spaflbrd,  C.  D.,  225. 
Standish,  Miles,  301,  390. 

Alexander,  301. 

Israel,  333. 

Peleg,  108,  424. 
Strong,  Gov.  Caleb,  326. 
Stanton,  Judge,  85. 
Stafford,  Mary  L.,  203. 
Steptoe,  Anna  L.,  267. 
Stipp,  Eld.  John,  15,  31,  150. 

Lucretia  E.,  148,454. 
Stewart,  Robert,  215. 
Stilwell,  Mary,  24. 
Stearns,  Samuel,  217. 
Stone,  Levi,  84. 
Stark,  Mary  Ellis,  249. 
Sunderlin,  Samuel,  218. 
Sutton,  Dr.  Josiah,  45,  206. 


Sutton,  Elsie,  45.  206. 

Heiter  Ann,  45,  206. 
Sullivan,  Lodoska  S.,  155. 
Swan,  Capt.  Edwin,  188. 
Sweet,  Alice,  247. 
Swedenborg,  Emanuel,  335. 
Tallman,  Jamep,  186. 

Sylvia  Shaw,  186. 
Taggart,  Jennie,  121. 
Tanner,  Frederick,  145. 
Taylor,  Jonathan,  33,  154,  437. 

Mary,  33. 

Phebe,  33. 

Sarah,  33. 

Rhoda  A.,  59,  240. 

David  T.,  202. 

Elias  R.,  20?. 
Terry,  John  H.,  60,  242. 

Joe,  60,  242. 

Nellie,  60,  242. 

William  L.,  60,  242. 
Thomas,  Hester  Ann,  46,  208. 

Dr.  Oliver  H.,  46,  208. 

Philander,  46,  208. 

Dr.  Uriah  D.,  272. 

Ernest  C,  272. 

Samantha,  45,  206. 
Thompson,  Katharine  Ann,  146. 

Villa,  225. 
Tilden,  John,  271. 

Titus,  271. 

Franklin,  271. 

David  E.,  271. 

Levi,  271. 
Toogood,  Dwight,  105. 

Lyman,  105. 

Merritt,  105. 

William,  104. 
Trask,  Amelia,  43,  204. 

Casper,  43,  203. 

Clarissa,  43,  203. 

Lieut.  Howell  H.,  43,  203. 

Lettie  S.,  43,  203. 

Moulton  S.,  43,  203. 

Henry  V.,  43,  204. 

De  Etta  E.,  43,  204. 

Louis,  204. 

Ruble  S.,  204. 


48o 


INDEX. 


Trowbridge,  Abigail,  205. 

Levi,  205. 

Sally  T.,  44,  204. 
Tubbs,  Hiram,  192. 

Edgar,  192. 

Everett,  192. 
Turner,  Lydia,  266. 
Tullar,  Willis,  213. 
Tutton,  Harriet,  260. 
Twiss,  Eev.  John  S.,  94. 

Dr.  Edward,  94. 
Vanderbilt,  Abilena,  34,  136. 

Andrew,  34,  156. 

Hannah,  34,  156. 

Matthew,  34,  166. 

Jemima,  35,  159. 
Van  Arsdale,  Thomas,  112. 
Van  Etten,  Anthony,  160. 

Hannah,  36,  160,  161 . 

Margaret,  66,  250. 
Vaughn,  Lois,  123. 
Viner,  Maggie  E.,  224. 

Zadie  May,  224. 
Vincent,  Jerome,  383. 
Walker,  Rev.  Jos.  M.,  272. 
Wade,  Rev.  Edwin  E.,  112. 
Wads  worth,  Mary,  457. 
Ward,  Arunah,  223. 

Curtis  D.,  262. 

Jonathan,  46,  208. 

Amplias  G.,  262. 

Melvin,  262. 

Dr.  Solomon,  262. 

Edwin,  208. 

Ellen,  208. 
Washburn,  Sarah,  88. 

Samuel,  88,  384. 

Theresa,  192. 
Waterman,  Lizzie,  266. 
Walworth,  Charles  B.,  236. 
Waite,  Seth,  333. 
Ware,  Mrs.  Lucretia  K.,  388. 
Waterson,  Geo.,  198. 
Warren,  Hiram,  393. 
Weaver,  Emeline,  187. 

Aaron,  187,  457. 
Weed,  Martha,  58,  236. 
Webber,  Estella,  268. 


Weiser,  Mary,  25,  129. 

Rachel,  25,  129. 
Weatherwax,  Abbie  L.,  96. 

J.  T.,  95. 

Peter,  95. 

Remember  A.,  95. 

D.,  95. 
Weldon,  Lovina,  60,  242. 
Wells,  S.  V.  R.,  82. 

Eunice,  91. 

Col.  David,  91. 
Wellborn,  John  C,  367,  448. 

D.  A.,  367. 

Mrs.  Fannie  A.,  367,  448. 
Wheeler,  C.  S.,  266. 
Whitmore,  Daniel,  97. 
White,  Capt.  Thomas.  335. 

Amanda  (Ferry,)  335. 

Gates,  41,  198. 

George,  41. 

Ellis,  41. 
Whitaker,  Lucy  Jane,  66,  252. 
Willard,  Richard,  62,  244. 

Marion.  62,  244. 

Clyde,  62,  244. 

R.  L.,  156. 
Wilcox,  Melissa,  268. 
Williams  Family,  395,  397. 

Apollos,  21,  101. 

Apollos,  Jr.,  21,  104. 

Alpheus,  21,  106. 

George,  106. 

Henry,  106. 

Daniel,  21,  105. 

Edward,  21,  106. 

Albert  K.,  106. 

Ev»  L.,  234. 

Hannah,  21,  104. 

Horace,  234. 

John,  21,  103. 

John,  96. 

Marvin,  108. 

Rhoda.  21.  102. 
Wilson,  David,  116. 

Dr.  Milo.  116. 

Stephen,  116,  449. 

Jane  A.,  221. 

Aaron,  60,  240. 

Wilsons  and  Luther,  466. 


INDEX. 


481 


Wilson,  Louisa,  37,  117. 

Martha  Jane,  59,  239. 

Clara  L.,  60,  240. 
Winslow,  Harriet,  60,  241. 

John,  60,  241. 
Winters,  Thomas,  192. 
Willobee,  Geo.  D.,  50,  214. 

Lois  A.,  50. 

Solomon  R.,  50. 
Wightman,  Joshua,  44,  204. 

Austin,  44,  204. 
Wing,  Hamilton,  32,  152. 

John,  32,  151. 
Wood,  Theodore,  387. 

Dinah,  311. 

William,  246. 

Fidelia,  98. 

Elijah,  98. 

Elias,  135. 

George,  135. 

Bansom,  135. 

Ursula,  98.- 

Polly,  121. 


Woodruff;  Laura  E.,  192. 

Woodward,  Annie,  271. 

Eliza,  271. 

Elizabeth,  51,  215. 

Polly,  271. 

Mary  L.,  121. 
Woodbridge,  Gov.  Wm,,  167. 
Worden,  Dr.  S.  T.,  109. 

Hannah  E.,  124. 
Wright,  Harry,  103. 

Abner,  448. 
Wyckoff;  Alice,  211. 
Yale,  Elizabeth,  47,  210. 
Yarrington,  Halsey  J.,  263. 

Horace  J.,  263. 

Merrill,  263. 
Youl,  Adelaid,  103. 

Amelia,  103. 

Louis.  103. 

Simeon  C,  103,  451. 
Young,  Mary  M.,  204.- 
Zellar,  Ida,  208. 
Zufelt,  Malvina,  42,  200. 


SPECIAL  INDEX. 


Albion,  Penn.,  153. 
Almena,  Mich.,  96. 
Andereonvilie,  Ga.,  210. 
Ann  .\rbor,  Mich.,  94. 
"Angel's  Visits,"  89,  335. 
Ashfielcl,  Mass.,  9,  85,  86,  237. 

History  of,  273. 

Soil  and  climate  of,  276. 

First  settlement  of,  277. 

Trials  of  settlers,  279. 

Incorporation,  281. 

Means  of  protection,  281. 

Ecclesiastical  history,  287.    ' 

Education,  292. 

Temperance,  293. 


Ashfield,  Professional  men  of,  294. 
Town  ofl5cers,  294,  356. 
Great  casualty,  295. 
Cotemporary  events,  298. 
Stories  of  the  early  settlers,  301. 
Celebration  in  1886,  320. 
Soldiers  guard  in  1756. 
Map  of,  328. 
Houses  of  early  settlers  in,  330  to 

335. 
Selectmen  in,  355. 
For  summer  residence,  356. 
Burial  places  in,  359. 
Centennial  celebration  in  1865  in, 

360. 


482 


INDEX. 


Ashfield,  Valuations  in  1766,  362. 

Early  families,  364  to  408. 
Baptist  Church  in  Ashfield,  408. 
"Baptist  Corner,"  14,  15,  329. 
Barnstable,  Mass.,  78,  92,  427. 
Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  266,  271. 
Bear  River  in  AshfieM,  329. 
Bellows  Hill,  11,3-29. 
Belding,  Mich.,  113. 
Belleville,  N.  Y.,  121,  195. 
Boyntonville,  N.  Y.,  174. 
Brandywine,  92. 
Canon  City,  Col.,  242,  253. 
Cape  Cod,  Mass.,  78. 
Carson  City,  Mich.,  142,  143. 
Ciissadaga,  N.  Y.,  97,  98. 
Casenovia,  N.  Y.,  194. 
Centerville,  .V.  Y.,  271,272. 
Colerain,  Ma"*.-.,  13,  75,  78,  119,  121, 

260,  306,  361. 
Coldwater,  Mich.,  104. 
Conway,  Ma«s.,  70. 
Clyraer,  N.  Y.,  134. 
Commissions  as  Lieutenants  of  David 
and  Dimick  Ellis,  326. 

Conneaut,  Ohio,  82,  138. 
Connersville,  Ind.,  206. 

Currency  and  prices  in  early  times, 
.      307,  311,  315,  319. 

Deerfield,  Mass.,  12,  14,  17,  68,  329. 

Delta,  Ohio,  109. 

Delmar,  Penn.,  81,  84,  86. 

Dexter,  Minn.,  105. 

Dublin,  Ireland,  9. 

Easton,  Mass.,  10,  260. 

Edge*ater,  N.  Y.,  259. 

Ellises  of  Great  Britain,  412,  414. 

Ellis  and  Phillips  fort,  280,  320,  333. 
^  Ellisburg,  N.  Y.,  15,  79,  190,  195. 
Penn.,  14,  85,  145,  229. 

Erie,  Penn.,  237,  241. 

Farmersville,  Ind.,  157,  248. 

Fredonia,  N.  Y.,  153. 

Germantown,  Penn.,  258. 

Guilford,  Vt.,  75,  125. 

Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  203. 

Greenfield,  Mass.,  91. 

Great  Pond,  328,  334. 


Hamilton  Coltege,  197. 
Harrison  Valley,  Pa.,  22'). 
Heber's  Cabin,  333. 
Heppner,  Oregon,  255. 
Huntstown  (Ashfield),  10,  17,73. 
Jackson,  Ind.,  271. 
LaGrange,  Wis.,  232,  23.'). 
Lands  bought  and  sold  by  Richard 

Ellis,  302,  304. 
Letters  and  documents,  422  to  460. 
Lincoln,  Xeb.,  247. 
Marlboro,  Vt.,  99. 
Marseilles,  Ohio,  241. 
Mason,  Mich.,  143. 
Minneapolis,  Minn.,  272. 
Montville,  N.  Y  ,  133. 
Monroe,  Mich.,  165.  251,  253. 
Moravia,  N.  Y.,  131,  160. 
Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary,  239,  452. 

Mount  Vernon,  Ind.,  156. 

New  England,  early  settlers,  300. 

North  Bend,  Ohio,  130,  131,  202. 

Old  Road  to  Huntstowp,  302. 

Olean,  N.  Y.,  131. 

Omro,  Wis.,  272. 

Otisco,  Mich.,  109,  168,  186. 

Peter's  Hill,  or  Mountain,  305,  333. 

Phelps,  N.  Y.,  95,  117. 

Pine  Creek,  Penn.,  84. 

Pittstown,  N.  Y.,  173,  175. 

Prichardville,  Mich.,  109. 

Proprietors'  Acts  and  Records,  281, 
353. 

Racine,  Wis.,  102. 

Ripley,  N.  Y.,  83,  137,  141. 

Revolutionary  incidents,  304. 

Rowe,  Mass.,  90,  99. 

Rochester,  X.  Y.,  103. 

Rockville,  Conn.,  117. 

Sacketts  Harbor,  X.  Y.,  75, 119,  269. 

Sanderson  Academy,  117,  238, 

Sempronius,  X.  Y.,  80,  111,  131. 

Shay's  Insurrection,  286. 

Shelburne,  Mass.,  91,  116. 

Scio,  Oregon,  15,  84,  149. 

Somerset,  X.  Y.,  268. 

South  Hadley,  Mass,  72. 

Spinster's  indenture,  311. 


INDEX. 


483 


Springville,  N.  Y.,  107. 
Sunderland,  Mass.,  7,  18,  68,  80. 
Springfield,  Penn.,  69,  80,  87,  154, 236. 
Stockton,  N.Y.,  71. 
Thetford,  Vt.,  119,  260. 
Tremblers,  or  Shakers,  of  Ashfield, 

362. 
Troy.  Mich.,  184,  185. 
Union  Academy,  188.         • 
Union  Village,  Vt ,  265. 


Voters  in  Ashfield  in  1798,  355. 
Wales  (Great  Britain),  9,  183,  312. 
War  of  the  Revolution,  282. 
Wellsboro,  Penn.,  144,  227. 
Weymouth,  Mass.,  16. 
Westfield,  N.  Y.,  82. 
Wesleyville,  Penn.,  87. 
Williamsville,  Vt.,  74,  100. 
Woodville,  N.  Y.,  129. 


[In  the  back  part  of  some  of  these  books  the  binder  will  insert  blank 
pages  in  which  every  family  may  keep  their  Family  Records.  It  is  hoped 
that  this  will  be  done  with  completeness  and  accuracy  for  generations  to 
come.] 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Ai^des 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  belo>^ . 


19(6 


INTERLIBRARY 
SEP  29 

Dua  Two  Weeks  from  Dati 

OCl  151986 
-;^-«  1988 


'  '>AN3 


Ol  iX.j^tiip{ 


